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Group A's table-toppers India and Kuwait lock horns in the last group match of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Both teams are level on points (6) and goal difference (+6) and have already qualified for the semi-finals. As such, the winners will determine who tops the group and takes on the second-placed side from Group B in the last four. For India, only a win will earn them pole position since they trail Kuwait on goals scored. Lallianzuala Chhangte, the magical winger, said on Monday that India should face Kuwait with a positive mindset in their last league match
Read Also: 'Like Ronaldo in the world, that's what Chhangte is becoming in India': Igor Stimac
Instructions from Igor Stimac:
"Coach instructed us to, you know, give our best, make the difference even when you come from the substitute bench, I think, we were doing that, after coming onto the pitch, but I think the lads were doing really, really well. Even in the first half, we couldn't play the way we wanted to. We didn't start the way we wanted to, but from the start of the second half, we did really well. And we were more aggressive than in the first half. And, yeah, I think we have helped the team. The most important thing is that even when you play from the substitute you make, you were able to make a difference. That's the most important thing," said Lallianzuala Chhangte when he was asked about what is his role in the team when he comes as a substitute.
Favourite Wingers & Idol of Lallianzuala Chhangte:
He mentioned Ashique Kuruniyan as one of his favourite wingers in the Indian team and also the 24 years old, Mahesh who has been excellent so far. "Well apart from me (laughs), the ones that I've played with like Ashique (Kuruniyan), Liston (Colaco), and Mahesh (Naorem Singh) are very good." When he was asked about who is his idol in Indian football, Chaangte replied, " I used to like Didika Ralte. He is a brilliant footballer, humble guy, can play with both feet, and can score from distance. I like him, I like him a lot."
Mentality:
Chhangte also opened up about the importance of having a positive mindset on the pitch. He said a negative mindset can hamper your performance and therefore it is very important to be positive. "I always try to be positive on the ground. It is very important to be optimistic on the ground because if you have negative thoughts or fear, you cannot play well. So, it is very important that you are optimistic on the ground," he said.
Team Performance & Preparation to Face Kuwait
Igor Stimac has nurtured and improved a lot of players ever since he has come in. The most impressive one has been none other than India's 'Golden Boy' Lallianzuala Chhangte. "We have been gelling up very well both on and off the pitch. The most important thing is that we have been able to apply on the pitch what we practice in training. That's really important," he said.
The Blue Tigers will face Kuwait in their final group-stage clash of the 2023 SAFF Championship. Chhangte said that the team is aware of how good Kuwait are as a team but they'll approach the game with the same, winning mentality.
"We are going up against a very good side and we are very well aware of that. We approach every game with the same mentality, that is to win. Even if they are highly-ranked or lower-ranked than us, we approach the game with the game mentality," he said.
