Igor Stimac: No training session before China game, we will give tactical preparation on flight

India's football team coach Stimac has no time for training ahead of Asian Games opener vs China. He'll use travel time for tactical prep. He'll decide if senior players Chhetri and Jhingan will play, with an eye on World Cup qualifiers. Squad lacks fullback, so wingers may fill in. Players will show their talent and deserve better opportunities.

The Indian men’s football team coach Igor Stimac said the team will not have any training sessions and will use the time on travel for tactical preparation ahead of its Asian Games opening fixture in Hangzhou on Tuesday.

The team’s preparations for the Asian Games were scuppered by the dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs over the release of the players for the continental competition.

After a few back-and-forths, a second-string squad was announced late on Friday, leaving Stimac hardly any time for the build-up for the match against host China on Tuesday.

“The players are arriving at the airport at 5-6 p.m. today. We have a flight at 10 p.m. and will reach Hong Kong at 7 a.m. We then need to wait another 5-6 hours to take a flight to Hangzhou, where we will reach at 5 p.m. (on Monday). We will not have a single training session prior to the game. We will give tactical preparation at the airport and on the flight. We need to let players rest once we reach Hangzhou before the first game,” the Croat lamented.

India is grouped with China, Bangladesh and Myanmar, with three matches scheduled in five days.

He added, “There is no reason to look back now. It’s time to focus on what can be done within our power to start the tournament with a good fight. We cannot expect more. More importantly, I will need to approach this very carefully and discuss with the players about their physical condition. I am meeting many of them for the first time and it will help me make up my mind about them. There is no time to cry now and go back. We will have to just use this time wisely.”

Stimac also noted that he will take a call on whether to risk the services of striker Sunil Chhetri and defender Sandesh Jhingan, two senior-most players in the squad, for the opener with one eye on the FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.