Hardik Bhatt: My family is the reason where I am now

The defender also threw light on whom he looks up to as his role model.

Mumbai City FC are a club who invest heavily in Indian talents, and amongst some of their top Indian players, comes Hardik Bhatt. The Mumbai-born right-back is a talented and swift player, who has incredible control over the ball, and is showing great improvement at Mumbai City.

Hardik Bhatt’s journey with Mumbai so far has been on the upward slope, and he has slowly started to make an impression in front of Des Buckingham, who is also allowing the former Rajasthan United player more game-time in the Hero Super Cup.

Hardik Bhatt spoke to Khel Now in an exclusive interview recently. These are the excerpts from the conversation.

Experience so far with Mumbai City

Ever since joining the Islanders four months ago, Hardik hasn’t had much game-time under his belt, but the player got the incredible opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful camp, that won the Shield, and comprised such incredible players.

“This experience has been out of this world so far because, me coming in mid-season from an I-League club to an ISL club was something I was expecting. I knew I would be making the move, but coming into the best team in the country, winning the ISL shield with them and also going on to win the AFC Qualifiers, which means we go on the biggest stage, compete with the biggest teams in Asia. It's really commendable and I am so proud of this team as a group. We've fought and worked so hard throughout the season. It feels amazing. It's great,” he started.

“Also playing with the set of players that are there, and especially in the Super Cup, I'm playing with the likes of Rahul Bhai (Bheke), Bipin (Singh), (Lallianzuala) Channgte, Phurba (Lachenpa), Mehtab (Singh), all of these players have represented the national team and the experience that they bring in the club and to the team and playing alongside these players is an honour and a pleasure. Sharing the same dressing room every day with them, the same training pitch. You learn so much and for me as a player, it's been really great,” he added.

Also, having the opportunity to play under the guidance of Des Buckingham was something to relish for Hardik, and the player couldn’t thank the coach enough for his support.

“I've said this in my interviews before, apart from his training and everything, the mentality that he brings in the club is what has made us achieve whatever we have so far. I've been improving so much, not just on the field but off it as well. And it's really amazing,” Hardik said.

Importance of Hero Super Cup for Hardik Bhatt

Ever since making his transfer to Mumbai City FC, Hardik just got to make one appearance in the league, but now in the onset of the Super Cup, in which Mumbai have opted for an all-Indian squad, gives the right-back a great great opportunity to make a positive impression.

When asked about the same, the 25-year-old said, “For me, it's about growing as a player every day. I've been approaching the training in the same way every day. I just look to get better than yesterday and that's what this opportunity is. I'm not going out there and thinking I need to prove something to the coach or the club.

He added, "They've obviously seen something and that's the reason I'm here and now it's all about getting better every day so that I'm able to contribute to the club's success overall and in that process I obviously get better. That's what I'm looking at.”

On his personal takeaways from the Churchill game

Hardik Bhatt got the opportunity to start for Mumbai City in their Super Cup opener against Churchill Brothers, in what was an emphatic win for his team in the final minute. When asked about his experience playing in such an important game, Hardik mentioned:

“It's always great to be on the pitch. Especially for me, I was on the pitch after quite some time. Last game I played was against East Bengal, then I played the next game against Churchill. There's quite some time in between those two games, so it's always great. I did not feel like I want the game to get over. I was just enjoying myself so much and it was a great win. It's a great start for our Super Cup campaign, so it feels great."

Difficulties faced during the ‘no club’ period

On 1st January 2021, Hardik’s contract with Bengaluru United ended and then after that for the next 8-9 months he went without a club, before joining another club in Kashmir. When asked about how difficult it was for him to go through that tough period, Hardik revealed:

“It was tough mentally because for a footballer going without a club and going without game-time, it's mentally more difficult. You start asking yourself the questions that am I on the right path? Am I still doing the right things? Is this the right way to go? All those questions pop up,” he said.

“This was during the COVID lockdown. I'm so grateful for my family. At that time. I was at home and they are the ones who got me through this difficult time. They're always the ones who are telling you, you're doing alright, you're doing great, you just keep doing what you're doing. So it was a very tough time for me. But at the same time I'm grateful that I was home. So I had the support of my family, my parents, my brother and my girlfriend. They've pushed me so far and they are the reason I am here,” he added.

Although the year started on a bad note, it ended on a really good one for Hardik Bhatt, as he signed with Rajasthan United in December of the same year.

“I was buzzing. For me, the move from I-League 2 to I-League and especially as in that year, I was also trying to play the I-League Second Division. I signed for a club in Kashmir, but unfortunately they couldn't play the Second Division I-League. So I was lucky to get a trial at Rajasthan United and then I made it. It was really thrilling at that time. I was really happy.”

On his time with Rajasthan United

Hardik Bhatt’s signing with Rajasthan proved to be a turning point in his career, and the player regards the club highly for believing in him. “I feel that was the most important. Like the season when I started with Rajasthan, was the most important season so far. That has led me to this stage of my life. One of my biggest opportunities right now.

"That's what they've presented to me and it wouldn't have been possible without them, without the trust of the coach, Mr. Pushpender Kundu. He has backed me so much throughout the season, during the Durand Cup, during the I-League. He really helped me grow as a player and as a person before I came to Mumbai City. So I'm really grateful for him and for the club to give me that opportunity,” said the 25-year-old.

Standout moment from his career so far

When Hardik was asked to pick one moment from his career that he will never forget, and has a special place in his heart, he at once exclaimed that it was his debut against East Bengal.

“My debut in the ISL, for sure. And, most importantly, it was in my hometown, in front of my family. That's what means the world to me.”

His early journey in football

Hardik Bhatt also spoke about how he started his journey as a footballer, and what motivated him to play the sport in the first place.

“Like most of the Indian boys, my sporting career also started with cricket. My elder brother Aniket was a cricket player and I was always following his footsteps and I joined cricket. But in seventh grade I actually took up some interest in football. I was playing for my school. I was never that great. I was just the player, who liked playing football, especially with my friends in in my society, but it was never serious, I never thought of it.

"I always wanted to take it professionally, but I did not have a road map at that time. Especially at that time, there was no ISL, there was just I-League. Mumbai FC was the only club in I-League from Mumbai. There’s no good grassroots in Mumbai. I've never played academy football in my life.

"So after my 10th grade, I went to MMK College, they have quite good football training and football teams over there. I played for them for a couple of years and then after that I decided to do hotel management because I really like cooking. So that was the year when I did not get time to play football because my hotel management college was almost like a nine to five. I used to come back home late, tired.

“The first six months of the college when I was actually away from football, I realized no, that is my calling and football is something I want to take up professionally. Being away from the sport made me realize what I wanted and that's when I decided to leave my management and I took up a commerce course and I just focused myself to training. For two years, I was without a club. I was training alone and the lack of grounds in Mumbai was a very big challenge for me. I trained for the first two years. I trained on the beach, I used to just go there, train my individual self to get better at the basics and the time that I've lost.

“And after that I went on to play the Super Division and league division in Mumbai. Those are some local divisions of Mumbai football. And finally, I went for I-League Second Division.” he concluded.

Also, when asked about his major role model and contributor in such a tough journey, Hardik said, “My brother. I mean, even my jersey number is for him. It's his birth year, 93. So he has been my role model all along. He has always pushed me. Even at my lowest, he was like, you're doing great, just keep doing what you're doing, trust the process and you'll be there. He was a sportsman himself. He knows the difficulties, he knows the challenges, and he always backed me. Even when I was without a club for the longest time, he was. He always told me just keep doing what you're doing and you'll get your best."

Messi or Ronaldo?

When asked the famous ‘Messi or Ronaldo’ question, Hardik Bhatt chose the Portuguese over the Argentine. “I think Ronaldo. I mean, I like both of them. They're both amazing. But I have this thing towards Ronaldo. His mindset and work ethic has always been amazing. That's what pushes me to do better.”

Biggest goals for the coming future

Hardik Bhatt also spoke about his biggest aspirations for the coming future, and said that a national team spot is what he has his eyes set on for now.

“In the near future, obviously I want to represent the national team. That's my first goal and and that's the current goal that I have after playing the ISL. Last year it was ISL, this year it's the national team and going forward it will keep growing. I don't want to be settled on anything. The goals will keep growing.”

Hardik Bhatt’s message for Mumbai City fans

Hardik also left a small message for the Mumbai City fans at the end of the interview.

“We're just very grateful for all the support that we get from them (the fans) and we're gonna try and give everything that we have. Rest assured, we are giving everything that we have on and off the pitch and we're gonna try and win this one for you guys.”