New Delhi, August 30: India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia says that the team will have to avoid conceding an early goal if they are to defend their Nehru Cup title against Syria here tomorrow.
Bhutia said the home side will have to take the lead to capitalise on the home advantage especially with a large crowd expected at the Ambedkar Stadium.
“Support from big crowd will naturally spur us but we have to take the lead. If we concede a goal then we will be under pressure with the crowd expectation increasing,” said the 32-year-old striker.
“It will be our third title in three years if we win tomorrow so we are looking to win. Syria are a very good side, a very organised side. We have to lift our game and work extra hard.
“It is not going to be easy. But if we play to our potential we can win tomorrow,” he added.
India lost their round-robin fixture to Syria yesterday but with the first XI including captain Bhutia taking field, Bob Houghton’s boys are a confident lot.
“Syria are a strong side and it is going to be a tight match tomorrow. But we are confident to win, the boys are charged up for tomorrow’s final. With the big crowd support expected we will be playing our best,” Houghton said after team training session at a city college ground here today.
—Agencies