FC Bengaluru coach questions Khalid Jamil about using Sunil Chhetri as a lone striker

Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza has expressed his concerns over Sunil Chhetri’s placement in the Indian national team following India’s exit from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. India’s campaign ended with a 1-2 defeat to Singapore, a result that came on the heels of their earlier failure to advance to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. were accepted by national team coaches.

Sunil Chhetri who returned to international football in March after previously announcing his retirement, he had an outstanding domestic season with Bengaluru FC. He scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 34 games, earning a national recall under former coach Manolo Marquez and continuing under his successor, Khalid Jamil. Despite this impressive form in the Indian Super League, Chhetri has struggled to replicate his club performances in recent international matches in India.

Zaragoza responded to media concerns by questioning the effectiveness of deploying Chhetri as a center forward in the national team. He emphasized that Chhetri’s strengths lie elsewhere, stating: “Did he play any for BFC as a first striker (last season)? Is Sunil Chhetri a striker? I’m asking because he’s going to the national team and you put him as the only striker. Then he can’t do his job,” Zaragoza said.

The coach elaborated further by highlighting Chhetri’s record in the ISL and asked if he was ever used as a No. 9. “It’s clear inside my head; Sunil Chhetri scored 14 goals in the ISL last season, 14! Can anyone here tell me if he scored any of them as a first striker (No. 9)?” Zaragoza told reporters. The statement underscored his belief that Chhetri is more effective as a poacher than a traditional centre-forward.

Although Chhetri was able to find the net against Maldives in a recent international friendly, the 41-year-old – India’s all-time top scorer – failed to score in subsequent competitive matches for the Blue Tigers. This lack of goals in key fixtures has prompted further scrutiny of his role and position in the team during major campaigns.

Zaragoza’s comments have reopened the debate over player selection and tactical decisions made during India’s recent matches. With India missing out on qualification for both the World Cup and the Asia Cup, the debate on how best to use an experienced player like Chhetri continues among coaches and fans alike.

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

October 30, 2025