Manvir Singh: I am ready to play in any position

The striker mentioned that he is recovering well after picking up an injury in training.

Manvir Singh was present in a recent discussion with the media ahead of India’s Tri-nation football tournament fixture against the Kyrgyz Republic on Tuesday at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. 

The ATK Mohun Bagan attacker played a brief role from the bench on the right wing in India’s 1-0 win over Myanmar in the opening tie of the tournament. He also plays as a wing-forward for his club with whom he won the ISL Trophy at the end of the 2022-23 season. During the interaction, he talks about immediately joining the national team camp after the ISL final and also dealing with an ankle injury.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation:

On the upcoming contest

Manvir Singh talked about India’s preparations and gave his opinion on what to expect from the Kyrgyz Republic on Tuesday. He said, “My favourite position is No.9, but it depends on the coach where he wants me to play. I am ready for every position. “The team (India) is fully motivated for tomorrow’s match. We have to win it. Unfortunately, I got injured in the last training but now I am recovering well. I hope to make a comeback soon.”

“They are a good team. They move well with the ball and retain possession well. However, we have to improve upon the mistakes that we made in the previous game. Hopefully, we can secure the win,” he added.

Part of life

The striker explained how he reported to the national camp immediately after the conclusion of the ISL final, suggesting that it is normal for a footballer. “We made it to the camp directly after the ISL final. This is part of life, we have to move on and cannot rest after winning the final. Directly, we joined the camp and played the game but I got injured, which is a part of the game. It was the same ankle that got injured in the ISL but the medical team is helping me recover.”

Role of the Indian Super League

Manvir Singh gives credit to the ISL for improving the standards of players. He said, “Getting a lot of game time is improving the standards, players are getting a lot of help. They learn a lot from the senior players. Players like Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurpreet Singh, and more are there who raise everyone’s standards in the dressing room. Although, the ISL has also helped a lot because the more game time improves confidence and helps to improve performance for the national team.”

Words of praise for Sunil Chhetri

Talking about the skipper Sunil Chhetri and how he inspires the rest of the team, Singh said, “Sunil Chhetri is the top scorer for the national team, you learn a lot from him. His finishing and calmness in front of the goal. He is a senior figure and you learn a lot from him on and off the field. In terms of off-the-field, his discipline is always on point. Dieting, sleeping on time, and recovering on time are some of the things that one learns from him.”