#TFGinterview: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu talks about AFC Cup campaign, Indian team, fans & much more

BENGALURU FC missed out on the chance to make it to the AFC Cup finals for the second consecutive time after the 2-2 (2-3 aggregate) result at the Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday (18th October).

But it doesn't take away the hard-work put by the team in the tournament with a fresh new team and just to repeat coach Albert Roca, it isn't an easy task to make it to the semi-finals of AFC Cup back-to-back.

And the team is marching towards the future with a lot of positivity. Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu believes the same, TFG caught up with him at the Bangalore Football Stadium earlier today (Thursday, 19th Oct) post their training session.

He is disappointed with the loss but at the same time happy to be part of the team.

"This has been a great opportunity for me, coming to Bengaluru and participating in the AFC Cup and playing straight away in the quarter-finals and then the semis. It was a tough task to be honest but all in all it was a good experience. Really gutted that it came to an end last night. Would have loved to reach the finals as it would have been the ideal preparation for us ahead of the ISL but that is football and you need to take everything on the back and keeping forward."

He further added,

"We are a new team, what we played last night (Wednesday, 18th Oct) was only our fourth game, getting this far...we wanted to go further but the experience we have got in the last three-four games has helped us to rectify our mistakes and what we need to work on more for the upcoming ISL. As players you know how much you need to work on in your abilities to help yourself and your team."

Gurpreet had a three year stint with the Norwegian club Stabaek and also featured in the Europa League, becoming the first Indian to do so. Sharing his experience with the foreign club, he said,

"It was full of ups and downs to be honest. When I went there I wasn't ready and after spending two seasons there, I was ready. I got the opportunity but then came the injury, I broke my hand and then I had work again and come back stronger. I did that and played more games. People say that it was a failed stint, I don't know how. I played more number of games than any other Indian could. When you get to play in the Europa League, it's a big thing"

"Playing in Europa wasn't even something I had in mind, firstly I didn't think of myself going to Europe and playing so getting that opportunity was really great. The experience playing there in Stabaek changed me as a person, day-in and day-out it changed me as a person and as a player, it made me stronger. Though there were also things that didn't happen, somethings that I would want to have changed and didn't happen. It could have helped me to continue with them but then nothing is perfect and not everything goes according to the way you want it to. But overall it was indeed a great experience and I hope more and more players would do something similar."

When asked with all these experience, what more was he able to bring into the national team, he said,

"I think just the mentality, the mentality to not give up and to give everything you have when on the field. Work on every single thing as all little things matter. Going in everyday, training and making sure you contribute, push yourself and the teammates. I think the mentality itself makes a huge difference and physically when you get good coaching and when you are playing against good players it will always push you to do better. And I think that's what I could bring into the team."

His move to Bengaluru from Europe wasn't welcomed by many, especially the fans and he explains the reason,

"I know people didn't expect this, in fact I myself wasn't expecting this move. I wanted to stay in Europe but I wanted to stay there on my terms. I struggled for three years, people don't know that. They just see that I played, became the first Indian and so on but days behind those were full of struggles and I didn't want to spend the same amount of time and same amount of conditions. So I wanted a new challenge where I was a bit more comfortable, where the level is even higher and I tried to do that. We did find a club in Portugal but things didn't work out accordingly in the short span. The transfer window in Norway was open just for a month and to convince that club to take me, the procedures just took too long and I just had to make a call."

"Because I didn't want to stay in Stabaek for another six months and not get to play. I was there physically, mentally, I had got good coaching and I was there technically and so I needed dates and the coaches agreed but since you have two good quality keepers it was so difficult to shuffle so one of us had to leave and so I had to make the tough call."

Talking about the Indian team qualifying for AFC Asian Cup, he said,

"The last time I was part of the Asian Cup team along with Sunil bhai and Subrata bhai, I was a youngster, I was there just as a number, I was there as a young member of the team, as an observer and this time around I had contributed so it felt really nice. It is something I look forward to, it's something where I want go and I want myself and the national team to be there every single time so that's what I want out of this."

So how is Gurpreet's relation with Subrata Paul?

"I think we have a great relation and I did look upto him and there are things I have learnt from him. Day-in-day-out he pushed me to be the best I can and the whole experience was good. He is someone I would want be with always by my side because you get to learn so much. There are things you discuss even off the pitch and on it. Back in 2010-11 I was just an observer as I said and this time around I am doing something differently and he is helping me out. And it is a great combination and it is working."

When asked about how is Sunil Chhetri as a BFC captain and the leader of the national team, he said,

"I think it is nothing different, he is the same person with the same attitude. We are lucky to have Sunil bhai as a captain. He shows us the way and we follow him and he is the one who pushes the team hard everytime the boys have their head low so he is a very important guy for us. And whenever we play whether for BFC or the national team, we want that guy to be on the pitch all the time because he will help us get to the result we want"

Talking about the being coached by Albert Roca at BFC and Stephen Constantine at the Indian side, he said,

"Different coaches, different style of plays, to be honest I love the contrast. Here (at BFC) we get to play a little more of football, we've got decent players who are good with the ball. In the national team we have players who are warriors, run, who want to defend, counter-attack and stuff like that. It's a different combination and I'm lucky to have that contrast right now."

India is hosting the first ever FIFA World Cup and the U-17 were seen in action. Sharing his thoughts on their campaign, Gurpreet said,

"I think for them it was a very good tournament, not only for them but also for us getting to see them play against the best, it was such a good sight. They did well, especially the first two matches. All I can say is that I hope they will learn from it and I hope...this is the start for their careers. Once the tournament is over, that will be the most important time of their lives. Of course, the World Cup was important but what happens after that is what we have to see. I want these guys to do well because eveyone is talented out there and even better than us what we were at the age of 16-17. They just need to make good choices right now and we need to push them."

Talking about the West Block Blues, he said,

"It's always been a pleasure, I've always had a good relation with them even when I was at Stabaek and then coming over here and playing for the national team. I've always had a good relation and good respect for them. They've always acted as the 12th man, even last night they did but we couldn't turn the result in our favour but I want them to back us every single time at the Kanteerava because they make a difference."

Talking further about how the fan culture has gone up for Indian football, he said,

"I think in the last four years, especially with the making of Bengaluru FC and the West Block Blues, you can see the fans are more educated and they are more organised. They have opinion that are good, they push the team, they very well act as the 12th man and that's what we want, that's what a player wants."

Finally to conclude, he shared a message to those fans who are yet to be part of the Indian football family,

"(Smiles) We are on a good path right now, everyone who are associated with us are part of the journey so if they can join it's going to help us. But we respect everyone's choices and we'll always love to have more fans and Indian football needs fans as we are nothing without the fans."

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