“We want to finish top of the group,” says Indian Women’s football team head coach Suren Chettri before the Bangladesh match

The Indian Women’s football team have been doing really well in the SAFF Championship as they recently pumped nine goals against Maldives and have secured their semi finals berth. They will now play against Bangladesh in their next match and head coach Suren Chettri wants his girls to focus on the job at hand rather than living in the bubble of the last game against Maldives.

The Indian eves have won back to back matches against Pakistan and Maldives and have scored 12 goals in total in these two matches.However Chhetri does not want any complacency ahead of the next game, he wants the team to fully focus on Bangladesh. “Winning by a huge margin always gives confidence. But we shouldn’t be complacent. Rather, we are looking forward to the next one with the same winning mentality, and finish top of the group”, he said ahead of the game.

“The Maldives game is a past now. We have shifted our focus on Bangladesh. I hope much like the previous game, the girls will play as a team, and concentrate on the job at hand,” the Indian head coach continued.

India are overwhelmingly favourites in this SAFF Championship but that cannot stop them from improving and being better individually and also as a team. Despite being favourites on paper they still need to prove that on the field. The Indian eves won 4-0 against Bangladesh, the last time both these teams met.

Suren Chettri assures that the team will be approaching the game with an attacking mindset. He also suggested that the Bangladeshi team will be more physical than their last two opponents. “Bangladesh are a physical side, and have played good football against Pakistan and Maldives. We respect them as an opponent, and will go out with an attacking mentality,” the coach maintained. “Both the teams know each other quite a bit as they have played against each other in recent times. Hence, both are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the other. We need to stay positive.”

The Indian team have maintained their shape in defense very well led by their captain Ashalata Devi. Whereas midfielder Anju Tamang who scored four goals against Maldives will also be a player to keep an eye on against Bangladesh.