Manolo Marquez hoping for strong performance from India ahead of high-stakes encounter against Bangladesh

The Blue Tigers have lost only thrice in head-to-head games against the Bengal Tigers.

Manolo Marquez and India will be prepared to battle till the final whistle when they face Bangladesh in a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Tuesday. The Indian head coach highlighted the significance of starting the campaign with a strong performance against the Bengal Tigers.

The top spot in Group C is the only guaranteed qualification route, so the stakes are high for teams like Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India and Singapore from the first whistle. While describing the first game in any qualifier as crucial, Manolo Marquez shared his belief that a win would set the tone for the rest of the competition.

Ahead of the big game against the Bengal Tigers, the Spaniard candidly shared his thoughts about the big game with the assembled media members.

‘Focus’ key for Sandesh Jhingan against the Bengal Tigers

In the press conference, veteran defender Sandesh Jhingan accompanied Manolo Marquez, who shared his experience facing Bangladesh. While reiterating the need to maintain focus, Jhingan emphasized the need to win their opening Group C game.

He stated, “Having played them a few times, one thing we know, not just in football, any sport when we play Bangladesh, them being our neighbors, one thing we can expect is a lot of high intensity, a lot of passion, high adrenaline. That’s one thing from experience I can say. Let’s see tomorrow how the game turns out to be.”

ALSO READ: What happened when India played Bangladesh last time?

The Hamza Choudhury factor could be minimal

A major talking point from the Bengal Tigers’ perspective ahead of the game is the inclusion of Hamza Choudhury in the Bangladesh squad. The Sheffield United midfielder, who previously represented England at the U-21 level, has opted to play for Bangladesh ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.

While talking about the former FA Cup-winning midfielder, Manolo Marquez stated, “Obviously, he’s a very good player. He was in the Premier League and now plays in the Championship, but his team is expected to be promoted. It’s great for Asian football to have players like him in national teams.”

Choudhury’s presence is expected to boost Bangladesh’s morale. However, Marquez remains unsure about whether the player will make an immediate impact. The Spaniard shared, “With less than a week of training with the squad, it’s uncertain how much influence he will have on the pitch. But it’s a great addition for Bangladesh.”

Marquez calls for attention towards preparation than the opponents

While Bangladesh can surprise the hosts, Manolo Marquez stressed that India’s approach remains the same for all opponents. The Spaniard was more focused on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of his team rather than the opponents. Marquez shared, “Whether we play Bangladesh, Maldives, or any other team, our preparation remains consistent. We expect the best version of our opponents and prepare accordingly, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses.”

The Bangladesh Football Association, meanwhile, has taken the fixture seriously, suspending their domestic league for over a month to help the national team train extensively. While Manolo Marquez acknowledged this as an advantage, he also pointed out that national teams rarely get extended preparation periods. He stated, “Bangladesh had more time to prepare, and they even trained in Saudi Arabia. That’s an advantage for them. But as a national team coach, you know that you won’t always get too many days to train with your squad.”

A battle of confidence and mindset for India

Jhingan also dismissed any notion of pressure being felt by the home side due to Bangladesh’s desire to break their long winless streak against their rivals. He stated, “It’s not about Bangladesh or any other team. It’s about how well you prepare. If you are prepared, you can fight against any team. If not, you can lose to any team.”

The Blue Tigers will also be cheerful about the form of veteran forward Sunil Chhetri, who has been the top Indian scorer in the Indian Super League (ISL) this season. Manolo Marquez shared, “Sunil is a legend in Indian football. I called him back because in our first few games, we struggled to score despite creating chances. His presence will be an asset for us.”

A winning start is crucial for the Spaniard and his men with only six games in the qualification round. He noted, “Every game is important, but the first one always brings more nerves because it starts a new competition. We need to get as many points as possible to ensure qualification.”

The upcoming encounter against the Bengal Tigers promises to test tactics, resilience, and determination within the Indian camp. The stage is set for an intense showdown in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, with both teams looking to get off the perfect start.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.