Chhetri upbeat, but tells team to stay sharp in AFC Cup semis

BENGALURU: Bengaluru FC will start with a slight edge against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Wednesday’s AFC Cup semifinals second leg with an away goal in hand and a couple

BENGALURU: Bengaluru FC will start with a slight edge against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Wednesday’s AFC Cup semifinals second leg with an away goal in hand and a couple of opposition players absent but captain Sunil Chhetri says that his side can lower their guard only at their peril.

HT Image

BFC had earned a crucial away-goal as they drew 1-1 against defending champions JDT in Malaysia on September 28 in the first leg. Johor will be without key strikers Juan Martin Lucero and Pereyra Diaz on Wednesday as they were suspended for the second leg.

But, Chhetri recounted how JDT have once beaten BFC 2-1 by fielding local players.

“The last time we played against them they beat us 2-1 by fielding local players. So, that is the potential and caliber of JDT players,” Chhetri told PTI.

“They are very strong side, but I am really positive. We fancy ourselves here. That’s the kind of vibe this ground gives me. Even the game we played against Iran and Oman — both international matches — I felt we could win,” said Chhetri, who is also India captain.

Asked about the absence of two rival strikers, Chhetri said their absence would not matter much as JDT were defending champions and they have enough bench strength.

“The absence of some of their key players due to injuries do not matter much. JDT is very good team. They have 50 good players to replace,” he said.

Chhetri is also not thinking too much about the away goal Bengaluru FC scored in the first leg and said the focus would be to score a goal and not to concede one.

“The away-goal helps but we are not trying to put this in our brains too much. Sometime it can give a different message,” he said.