Sony Norde and Sunil Chhetri hated each other before the ISL says the Indian international

Sunil Chhetri scored a brace for Mumbai City FC on their last outing (Image Source: ISL)

Mumbai City FC registered their first win of the season on Wednesday when they overcame Delhi Dynamos 2-0 at the Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Sunil Chhetri announced himself to the Mumbai City FC faithful with a neat brace, but once again it was Sony Norde who ran the show for the Mumbaikars setting up both of Sunil Chhetri’s goals and causing havoc in the Delhi Dynamos defence all day long.

The Bengaluru FC striker disclosed that his relationship with Sony Norde before coming to Mumbai City FC wasn’t exactly rosy, thanks to their respective teams’ epic battle in the I-League last season, but Sunil Chhetri admitted that the two get along very well off pitch now, calling Sony Norde a friendly person.

“To be honest, we hated each other before the ISL. We were fierce competitors in the I-League and we didn’t like each other. But I have come to know him better after coming to Mumbai City FC and he is a real friendly guy. He gets along well with everyone in the squad and I feel it’s important to be friendly off the pitch to gel well on it,” said Mumbai City FC’s match-winner against the Delhi Dynamos.

The duo combined well against the Delhi Dynamos, putting an end to the impotency which the Mumbai City FC attack portrayed in the opening three games. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against FC Goa, Sunil Chhetri likened Sony Norde to himself and suggested that that the similarities between them are helping them to combine well in matches.

“Sony is similar to me, He is someone who likes to come inside from the left hand side and I do the same playing in that position for Bengaluru FC. So it becomes easier to understand him and it’s the same for him as well as we both are quite similar playing in that position. So we both have clicked more than some of the other players in the team,” revealed Chhetri.

“Sony is a smart player. He understands the game very well and likes to play those little one-twos on the edge of the box. I too like to play that way and that’s why we combined well in the last game,” said Sunil Chhetri as he heaped praise on the Haitian.

But the Indian national team forward isn’t taking anything for granted and felt that the duo need to build from where they left off against Chennaiyin FC. “So far it’s a one off as its only happened once.

“But we must build on it and get better every game. If you want to win consistently in football, the whole team needs to develop an understanding and not just two players. Hopefully we will be able to achieve that in games to come,” warned Sunil Chhetri.

Assistant coach Oscar Bruzon spotted the understanding between the duo

Sunil Chhetri credited assistant Coach Oscar Bruzon for spotting the understanding between himself and Sony Norde during training. Oscar Bruzon unraveled this through a process of handing the duo slight freedom on the pitch to produce the desired effect on the game.

“Both Sunil and Sony like to be free. I understood that and in the last game I gave them freedom to roam around the pitch. It worked as it kept the opposition defenders guessing all the time,” the Spanish assistant Coach said.

Mumbai City FC’s hopes will once again be pinned on the duo to get them over the line against leaders FC Goa and if they do manage to do so, then the crowd will be in for some real entertainment.