Want players to improve and not make same mistakes, says Igor Stimac

Igor Stimac also mentioned about the absence of natural turfs in Bengaluru.

India became the Hero Intercontinental Cup champions for the second time in the history of the competition after they defeated a higher ranked Lebanon side in the final by 2-0. The Blue Tigers were rampant all throughout the competition and deserved to win the trophy. It was the side’s second silverware in the tutelage of current manager Igor Stimac.

But there’s no time to rest and celebrate as the team now shifts its focus to the 2023 SAFF Championship. India are currently the defending champions after having won the 2021 SAFF Championship in Maldives. The Blue Tigers begin their campaign tomorrow against their arch-rivals Pakistan.

Ahead of the game, head coach Igor Stimac addressed the media and shared his thoughts going into the fixture.

Thoughts ahead of the tournament

When asked about his thoughts ahead of the tournament, Igor Stimac began by welcoming Kuwait and Lebanon who are not a part of SAFF, but have still come here to play. He further went on to say that all the teams in the group are different and the games will be entertaining.

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“First of all, Namaskar to everybody. I want to welcome to Kuwait and Lebanon who are coming here and participating. I hope they enjoy the tournament and the city. I hope the tournament will be very competitive. All four teams in our group have something special. We are all different and each game will be different. There will be a lot of good games and I think the crowd will enjoy it,” he asserted.

Mood in the camp

India will face off against arch-rivals Pakistan to begin their campaign. India vs Pakistan is more than just a match and is an emotion across all sports. When asked about the mood in the camp, the head coach said that the mood is very good after winning the Hero Intercontinental Cup.

“The mood in the camp is brilliant after winning the Intercontinental Cup. We enjoyed each and every second in Odisha and it helped us a lot. We have come to a point where we can say that we are happy about our performance."

He further went on to say that the team has left behind whatever happened in Odisha and is now ready with a new approach for a new tournament.

“The mood is great but we have left behind whatever happened in Odisha. It’s a totally new tournament with new teams. We have a new approach and the climate is also new. We are coming from 48 degree Celsius to a very English kind of weather. It will take some time for us to adapt as well.”

Preparation for the tournament

Speaking about the preparations ahead of the tournament, Igor Stimac said that his side will approach the tournament game by game. There is no room to work more on the pitch because of the absence of natural turfs in Bengaluru. 

“We will approach it game by game, day by day. We are well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents. So we are going to work on it. There is not much time for training sessions because Bengaluru does not enjoy natural grass turfs. So, no coaches like to work too much on artificial turf."

He further added, “Mostly it will be tactical points and slow movements without risking any injuries. I expect great games of football and forget the rankings. I watched the replay of the Pakistan-Kenya game where Pakistan were the better side away from home. They created more chances and were more aggressive. They have a few players who have been developed abroad."

He also mentioned that India are in a serious group and there is a lot of competition because all the teams are good and have come here to win.

“We have a very serious group with serious competition. Irrespective of the rankings, we are going to face tough opponents. Now everyday is a new challenge for us. So, let’s respect all the teams. All of them have come here to win.”

Expectations from the team

The head coach was quizzed about his expectations from the team going into the tournament.

“Expectations are always the same. I cannot tell them to always win the game. I can show them the way and the possibility of how to get there and it’s up to them after that. We want our players to improve and not make the same mistakes," he stated. 

He also added that the most important thing that he tells his players is to be honest with themselves when they come back to the dressing room.

“The most important thing that I ask my players is that once you come back from the pitch and look yourself in the mirror, you should be honest to yourself and say that you’ve given your best. That’s all I am asking from my players,” he concluded.