“It was the need of the hour” – Indian goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya on sacking of head coach Igor Stimac

India’s veteran goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya has supported the sacking of head coach Igor Stimac after the Blue Tigers failed to make it to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Croatian was sacked after India played a goalless draw against Kuwait and then lost to Qatar by 2-1 in a controversial manner.

The shot-stopper reckons Stimac’s sacking was the need of the hour and should have been done earlier. During his five-year stint, Stimac won four titles with India including two SAFF Championship trophies, one Tri-Nation Series and one Intercontinental Cup. 

“As an Indian footballer who has played for nearly 2 decades and played under some exceptional coaches; moreover, as an Indian football fan, I am happy to see that finally, things seem to be moving in the right direction, or at least it’s a start. The sacking of the current head coach is not a statement, it was the need of the hour,” Bhattacharya wrote in his Instagram post.

Bhattacharya reckons Stimac made poor team selections during his tenure and came up with excuses after disappointing results.

“The team selection, followed by excuses for poor results is frustrating for players and fans both. What should have been done a while ago has finally been done now. Better late than never I suppose.”

The goalkeeper named coaches like Antonio Lopez Habas, Sergio Lobera or Manolo Marquez as potential candidates to take the coaching baton from Stimac.

“It should be someone who knows and understands Indian football, someone who has got fantastic results time and again at club level. A coach with a strong personality and character who isn’t influenced by a single player or his past achievements alone, someone like Mr. Antonio Lopez Habas, Sergio Lobera or Mr. Manolo Marquez for example.”

“But I’m just one person. There are probably countless other frustrated Indian football fans who probably feel the same and we can finally sleep peacefully, knowing we have taken a step in the right direction,” he added.