It’s been a long season for Bengaluru FC forward Sunil Chhetri. After the rigours of the ISL, SAFF Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he was tasked with leading the Blues with one main target in mind – reclaiming the I-League title.
They did just that and also managed to make history by reaching the AFC Cup quarter-finals after Chhetri grabbed a brace in the Round of 16 win over Kitchee. Sportskeeda caught up with the India international at Puma Social in Bengaluru for an exclusive interview on the recently concluded campaign.
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Firstly, congratulations on winning the I-League once again and also reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup.
Thank you so much!
You finished the season as the top scorer of Bengaluru FC yet again. Are you targeting the 50-goal mark next season? You’re 12 goals short.
See, when I was younger I used to think a lot about goals. How many I’ve scored and how many the others have scored... Now. I’m at ease. I love scoring, make no mistake about that. I love scoring in every game.
I scored just 9 goals this season and we still won the I-League and we’re doing well in the AFC Cup. That tells you that we’re more of a team. Kim scored 7 goals, Vineeth scored 7 goals and Eugene [Lyngdoh] scored very important goals when he came back from injury. So we’re not just dependent on one player and we’re more of a team and that gives me immense pleasure.
This is how it has been the last three years. That’s when you realize that the onus or the pressure is not only on one person – we all share the burden. Everybody chips in and that’s important.
That was going to be my next question. You’ve actually turned provider for your teammates this season with a few assists as well.
I know, and I’m happy! I remember the Salgaocar game when we were leading 1-0 and there was a lot of pressure on us. We had a lovely break and I played a lovely one-two with Alwyn [George], he gave me a great pass. I had this feeling that I should go for goal and try and finish myself. But then I saw Len (Seminlen Doungel) and I said to myself, “Pass the ball and make sure it’s a good pass.” (Len scored to make it 2-0 from close range thanks to Chhetri’s through ball)
When I passed it I was so satisfied; the same satisfaction you get when you score a goal. It was 2-0 (in the 88th minute) and I knew the trophy was ours. It was one of those assists that was almost the same as scoring.
Speaking of the trophy, what was that like? Last year you were four minutes away from taking it home. Was this like revenge, winning it back with a game to spare?
No, man. Deep down, all the players didn’t start the campaign thinking of revenge. But we all knew that to lose the league the way we lost it to Mohun Bagan was brutal.
We had an awards night the day after. So imagine losing the league and the next day you have to get decked up and go for an awards night. Everyone was gloomy and sad. Then our owner Sajjan Jindal came and he was smiling and he was so happy and he was hugging everyone.
I was thinking, “Wait a second, what’s happening?” And he said, “I’m so proud of you guys. The first year we won the league and in the second year we won the Federation Cup and now we’re second in the league.”
He was so happy, and I was thinking, “Look at how jubilant he is.” That really cheered me up and told me that I’m at the right club. If the owner thinks like that, it’s a happy place to be. And thankfully, we could return the league title to him. I’m sure he’s very happy and so are we.
It’s been a massive journey. In the first year, we weren’t the favourites and we won the league. But in the second and third year, we were the favourites and it’s difficult. In every game, the opponents are going to give their best and it becomes that much more difficult and you can’t miss out (on the opportunity).
Especially this year; the margin was so small. Mohun Bagan lost two games and we were champions with one match in hand. It was such a closely fought league and thankfully we won the league.
Was there any pressure when Bengaluru were trailing the league leaders?
We weren’t trailing, there was a three-point gap. And the gaffer knew exactly what we had to do. He said, “Just relax and think about your game. Don’t think about the points – it’s just three points; it’s always manageable.”
If it was 6-7 points, then it becomes difficult. But it was always three points. We knew that we had the last game against them, no matter what happens. Mohun Bagan also knew that but they faltered in back-to-back games while we won two games, so the last game wasn’t important (in the title race).
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What was the turning point this season where you knew you would actually win the I-League title again?
There were a few. But if I had to name one, it was the superstar Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s comeback. The rest of the squad was very tired and he had a break for one-and-a-half months (Lyngdoh injured his foot in a match against Mumbai FC) and he was hungry. He couldn’t wait to get back to the field.
When he came back – wow! The way he came back; he had two assists and three goals in the next three games which were so important. The goals that he scored (in the East Bengal game) and the assist to Kim [Song-Yong]. We were 1-0 down and he scores a goal and then he makes that kind of pass after dribbling past Sanju Pradhan and sending in a lovely cross to Kim who scored a brilliant goal.
That was a welcome change for us. Thank God he got injured (laughs) and had that break because it was a long season for him, for me, for Rino [Anto], for Thoi [Singh] who had also played in the ISL, we played in the SAFF Cup. When he returned to the squad, honestly, he made the difference that helped us win the league.
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What would you say was the proudest moment of the season?
The day before yesterday (Bengaluru FC beat Kitchee to reach the AFC Cup quarter-finals)! The gaffer was talking to us and it was a bit jittery since he wasn’t allowed on the pitch due to the four-match ban. We had lost four games – one to Mohun Bagan, twice against Aizawl in the Federation Cup and the fourth match we lost was against Johor [in the AFC Cup].
As a Bengaluru FC player, we are not used to this and it was pinching us. The gaffer said, “Just go there and do not let it happen for the fifth time.” When you lose five games on the trot, it stays as a mark.
Thankfully, we did that. We were missing Vineeth and Kim – our best goal scorers. Daniel [Lalhlimpuia] stepped up, I think he’s a great talent. Udanta [Singh] did really well. John [Johnson] and Curtis [Osano] were rock solid. Alwyn played really well and Eugene was, as usual, the superstar. The whole team played well. So I’m really happy, really proud!
