Chhangte: I believe something good will happen this year for Indian national team
Chhangte: I believe something good will happen this year for Indian national team
Indian national football team winger Lallianzuala Chhangte believes that the pressure stemming from the national team’s struggles should not be focused on just a few players, but should be embraced as a collective unit.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Super Cup 2025 in Bhubaneswar, where his side, Mumbai City FC, is awaiting a semifinal clash against Jamshedpur FC, Chhangte explained why some of the national team regulars have not been able to emulate their club form and success on the international stage.
Even in the continental stage with his club side, the domestic players failed to step up in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, where Mumbai City finished last with zero points and a goal difference of -16.
“In the league (Indian Super League), we have lots of foreigners to help us and make an impact in the tough games. But, when it comes to playing for your nation, everyone has to take responsibility,” Chhangte said.
Chhangte, who made his national team debut back in 2015, has gone on to represent India 43 times, scoring eight goals and assisting two. He was part of the squad that crashed out in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 without a single win, as well as the side that failed to make it into the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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In contrast, he has scored 46 goals and set up 20 more in 168 appearances in the ISL, while lifting the League Shield and Cup with MCFC.
“It was tough to lose in the Asian Cup and also miss out on a spot in the third round of the FIFA qualifiers. It was really challenging, but at the same time, it was also, you know, a good experience, particularly for me,” Chhangte said.
“Personally, and as a team, we learned a lot as to what it takes to reach a certain level, and I believe we will come out better from that experience,” he added.
Despite a taxing couple of years, Chhangte remained optimistic about the Indian team’s future and said players were united to give their all to try and secure wins in their upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
“We have a good coach, good staff and a good bunch of players. And, if we continue to work hard, I believe something good is happening this year,” he said.
The 27-year-old, who was named MCFC captain ahead of the recently concluded ISL season, had a below-par campaign (six goals and two assists in 24 appearances) by his standards and bowed out of the competition in the playoffs stage, after losing 0-5 against Bengaluru FC.
However, he seems to have found his stride in the Super Cup, leading from the front with three goals and an assist in two games, including scoring the winner against Inter Kashi in the quarterfinal on Sunday.
“We were very disappointed after the loss against Bengaluru, and so we didn’t even take a day off and started training for the Super Cup,” Chhangte informed.
“We sacrificed a lot. We did not get to spend time with our families or take a holiday. So, we have shown that we can get good results if we work hard. And we have proved that so far in the competition, and hopefully we can do it again for the next one as well,” he concluded.
