Hero Tri-Series: Constantine advises caution against the counter attacks of St. Kitts & Nevis

THE THIRD AND FINAL game of the tri-nation series will be played on August 24 between India and St Kitts and Nevis.

India won their first game against Mauritius 2-1 on August 19 and the second game between St. Kitts and Nevis and Mauritius ended in a 1-1 draw on August 22.

At the press conference, Stephen Constantine was present along with captain Sandesh Jhingan. Sharing what pointers his team would want to learn from the last game or improve on for the coming game, Constantine said,

“We need to start stronger. We have a tendency to start slow. Need to come out a bit quicker and more focussed”

Constatine replied to question of what he thought about the statement made by Jacques Passy, coach of St. Kitts and Nevis, who said that defence was India’s strength saying,

“That is their thing. My thing about the team is a bit more whole. When we have the ball, we defend quite well as a team”

In the last game against Mauritius, India came out with lot more vigour in the second half. Asked if that meant a good half time talk, Constantine said Sandesh would be in a better position to explain. Captain Jhingan went on to share,

“The half time talk does help, especially against Mauritius, we started slow and coach said along with that there were other things that we needed to work on.”

He continued saying,

“So second half we tried to work on that and we got the result. And yes it helps and he always motivates us from the side line as well. That is what happened against Mauritius that we were lacking intensity”

Talking about what to expect from St. Kitts and Nevis, Constantine said,

“St Kitts did a very good job containing Mauritius. I thought Mauritius would be a bit more aggressive but they sat back and they paid. But must give credit to St Kitts, they kept players behind the ball. They worked their socks off to keep themselves in the game”

Constantine went on to state,

“I think they are quite dangerous on counter attacks”

St. Kitts and Nevis were missing several keys players and if that meant India would have an easy ride in the game was the question that the Indian gaffer replied saying,

“No, it makes the job harder because the players who are here will do everything they can to show their coach why they should be there. If they play well they may get a contract with a club in the U.S.A where many of their players are. ISL clubs will also looking at the games”

Jhingan spoke on conceding a goal after conceding three clean sheets saying,

“Mental strength of the team is very strong. When we conceded the goal, we were worried but knew we could come back”

Sandesh continued,

“We are learning day by day. Looking at ourselves two years back and now, we are in good hands”

The national team coach Constantine, who had been with the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup squad for a while as a transitional coach expressed concern about the kids after the U-27 World Cup was over. With the recent news of project Arrows being revived by the AIFF, asked seemed to be a right step in the right direction, Constantine said he was not too sure of having the U-17 kids playing someone against twice their ages. He said,

“This is something I had proposed about 15 years back. It got implemented quite later. My idea was for the U-19 and U-21 to have a pathway. But the 16 year old playing against 28-19 year olds on a weekly basis, I don’t know”

India play St. Kitts and Nevis at Mumbai Football Arena tomorrow at 8:00 pm.

They are quite dangerous on counter attacks: Constantine on St. Kitts and Nevis