Chhetri is once in a decade or two player: Stimac

Describing Sunil Chhetri as 'once-in-a-decade' player, Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac on Friday said he does not see any one replacing the talismanic captain in the next five years.

Stimac said a team effort will be needed to "replace" Chhetri once he decides to hang his boots.

"Honestly, the question (of what next after Chhetri?) irritates me. We have Sunil in the team -- that happens once in every decade or two. But still everyone keeps asking 'when is he leaving or what next once he leaves?' Let him enjoy his game. Why are we putting pressure on him?" Stimac wondered.

"He has enough years left in him, he is enjoying his game, he is still scoring goals. As for what we will do once he leaves, we need to replace him as a team, as a group. It's not about an individual player. It has to be a team effort because players like him, it's very difficult to replace. We cannot see anyone now, or in five years, replacing him. It has to be a team effort."
"We are collectively not happy to not have won against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, but things will change."
"It cannot be a dream anymore, it needs to become a very realistic hope. We are not far away from that. We are working on a few things but once they bear fruit, it will help us to develop much quicker."