Chhetri tips EB to win

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Sunil Chhetri

Kolkata giants East Bengal have been tipped as favourites by Indian captain Sunil Chhetri against Indonesian champions Semen Padang, when the two sides clash over two legs in the AFC Cup quarter-finals in September, 2013.

“It’s a relatively easy draw for East Bengal. Indians clubs are usually pitted against West Asian Teams who are very tough to beat. With all due respect to Semen Padang, I feel East Bengal have enough firepower to win against them,” Chhetri was quoted as saying on the All India Football Federation’s website.
The Trevor James Morgan-coached side’s previous best result in the competition was back in 2004 where they reached the last-eight stages with Subhash Bhowmick as coach.
Chhetri, who was part of the East Bengal squad in 2008-09, has faced the Indonesian side while he was on loan at Churchill Brothers from Portugal side Sporting Lisbon’s reserve team in the second half of the season. The 28-year-old striker even scored his side’s opening goal in a Group E encounter which ended 2-2.
“We played against them in the group stages of the tournament. They are a good team with quality players like Edward Junior Wilson. But I feel the manner in which East Bengal have been playing in the AFC Cup, Padang may find the going difficult. But one cannot be complacent, especially in the quarter-finals,” Chhetri said.
Padang, coached by Jafri Sastrak, missed their foreign imports in that match against the eventual I-League champions on March 12 but for the key quarter-final clash, they will be at full strength and the likes of Junior Wilson can come handy for the side.
Chhetri, however, reckons that the Red and Golds will still be the superior opponents.
“I don’t think so. East Bengal have a lot of quality in their ranks. Under Morgan, they have looked a well oiled machine. The team chemistry has been superb, thus this success. It’s amazing that an Indian club has reached this far in the AFC Cup after a long time.
“I wish East Bengal all the best. I feel very happy to see that an Indian club is doing so well in the international arena. I hope they go all the way, but at this juncture it is advisable to take one match at a time, which I’m sure they will,” the twice AIFF player of the year said.