Bangladesh match will also be a difficult match for us- Anirudh Thapa

The midfielder also revealed that the Indian football team is preparing for the match in a different way.

As the Indian national team moves into a new dawn under Igor Stimac, Anirudh Thapa is slowly turning out to be among his biggest assets, with his industrious work through the middle. The Chennaiyin FC man is becoming a leader in his own right, with his performance against Qatar proving his never-say-die spirit.

Anirudh Thapa is playing a more influential role in the Croatian’s system, helping churn together moves beautifully with his precise passes and deft through-balls. The Chennaiyin star is bound to be a crucial cog in improving this new system and is in debt of Stimac for helping him grow into a more complete midfielder.

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While preparing for the upcoming qualifier against Bangladesh in Guwahati, Thapa spoke about the importance of the Croatian and told IANS (via News18), “Playing under Stimac has changed me a lot. He teaches us a lot of new style of football. He is sharing his experiences and from that we are learning a lot of things.

"For me, personally, I am getting more composed and calm under him. We are learning a new style of football which is helping us," he further explained.

Despite being a regular in the team, Thapa reiterated how the competitiveness in the national side forces him to maintain his A-game throughout. He said, “We have great technical players here, who have great abilities. So, it is difficult for me, as I have to fight for my position. It's not easy for me. In every position, we have 3-4 players who can easily play with same ability. I need to give my best everyday and learn whatever he is teaching us and from other players' style."

India will face a resurgent Bangladesh side, who are known for their rigid defensive shape and have kept quite a few clean-sheets in 2019 as well. Thapa explained how they aren’t taking the neighbours for granted and stated, “Bangladesh match will also be a difficult match for us, as they are not an easy team. We are approaching the game in a different way. We need three points.

They will approach in the same way, they also will want to win. So, it will be a difficult match for us. We need to be more focussed and more creative. We need to score early goals and that's what will make the difference," he added.

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Thapa still becomes like a child when talking about how surreal it is for him to play alongside Sunil Chhetri, whom he once idolized and watched play on TV.

He stated of his experience of playing with Chhetri and said, “It is like a dream for me. I never thought it would happen for a boy like me. He is one of the top 10 goalscorers in the world and that is not easy. We belong to a country where football is not famous and person sitting next to you has done it.

It's a big thing and sharing the dressing room, I don't have words to explain his greatness. It is a big thing for me, as a 21-year-old boy who has seen him on TV while growing up," he signed off.