‘We aren’t behind Bangladesh’: India defender Chanu

Hosts India are seemingly eager to take revenge for their back-to-back defeats to Bangladesh when they face the same opponents in the final Group B encounter of the SAFF Women’s Championship at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Sunday.

Both Bangladesh and India are level on three points each, but India are ahead of Bangladesh by virtue of goal difference. Although a draw is good enough to top the group, the hosts want to progress to the semifinals with a win over Bangladesh, who beat them in their last two meetings in the regional football extravaganza.

Defender Ranjana Chanu is determined to beat Bangladesh and progress to the semifinals with an all-win record, while India coach Crispin Chettri wants to break Bangladesh’s momentum on home soil.

“We lost 3-1 to Bangladesh last time and that really hurt us. Now we’re playing on our home ground and we are focused on one thing: defeating Bangladesh and securing all three points to move to the semifinals with an all-win record,” the experienced defender Chanu told reporters before the start of the final preparation at the Don Bosco ground on Saturday afternoon.

Although Chanu rated Bangladesh as a strong opponent, she did not place them above India.

“Bangladesh are strong, but we are also a strong side. We aren't behind them in any way and we’ll prove it tomorrow [Sunday],” said Chanu through an interpreter.

Replying to a question about Bangladesh’s relentless attacks, she said, “Our defence is solid. We’ll neutralise their attacks, and our strikers will aim to score early.”

Five-time champions India were beaten by Bangladesh in the group stage in each of the previous two editions of the regional women’s football tournament before being eliminated in the semifinals by Nepal.

“To be honest, I think both teams shouldn't take pressure because it's all about developing our respective countries and looking forward to qualifying for the AFC. Peter Butler [Bangladesh head coach] and I are doing the same thing,” India head coach Crispin Chettri said.

“I said before that, as the hosts, we want to win the tournament and break Bangladesh’s momentum, but it's on the field that the players have to do that.”

Chettri also asked people not to judge teams solely by scorelines.

“It's a different ball game against Bangladesh, just as Maldives was a different ball game. We just look at the scoreline, but Bangladesh missed so many chances against Maldives. So we can't say a team is good just by looking at the scoreline. I think it will be a fair and a good game to watch tomorrow,” said Chettri.

Bangladesh have so far played eight SAFF Women’s Championship matches against India, winning two, drawing one and losing five.