"We want to qualify for the knockout rounds" - Lallianzuala Chhangte optimistic about India's prospects in 2023 AFC Asian Cup

Indian men's football team winger Lallianzuala Chhangte is confident that his team will give it their all in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup which gets underway on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Speaking to Hindustan Times ahead of India's opening Group B fixture against Australia in Al Rayyan, Chhangte said:

"We are training hard, and we will play hard and give it our best in the three matches in the group stage, and then see where we stand. For sure, we want to qualify for the knockout rounds"

The 26-year-old, who made his Team India debut back in December 2015 during the SAFF Championship, has gone on to become one of the mainstays in the side.

Lallianzuala Chhangte aware of impending challenges

He is well aware of the challenges that India will be facing in their group fixtures, having been drawn against higher-ranked Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria.

Lallianzuala Chhangte, who missed out on a place in the Indian squad at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, also said:

"It’s not an easy group by any means, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria are all good teams, especially the first two. But it’s the Asian Cup, if you want to play at this level, you need to be prepared to face the best opponents in the continent."

He further admitted that the Blue Tigers need to be more clinical, an aspect on which they have been working hard.

"That is what we are aiming for. We will try our best, and as for the clinical bit, we have been working hard in training on that aspect, and hopefully, we can show some results on the pitch. It’s very important to be clinical at this level, because you are not going to keep getting the same chances over and over again. You’ve got to take the chances you get, or the opponents are so good that they will punish you."

If India wants to shine and make a statement at the continent's biggest stage, they need to be ruthless in front of the goal. For that, the role of Lallianzuala Chhangte, who is known for his incredible pace, dribbling, and finishing will be pivotal.