Indian Midfielder Anirudh Thapa Takes on the Preparation for the Asian Cup

Anirudh Thapa talks about the Asian Cup and the consistency of the Indian football team but the tough times ahead for which, the team members need to buck up.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: 2023-07-04 07:40:51

Anirudh Thapa is unsure of his position in the Asian Cup squad for next January, but he is certain of the amount of time India will need to prepare for the greatest men's football competition on the continent. "A minimum of four weeks," he replied. Before his third SAFF Championship final, this one against invitees Kuwait in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the India midfielder predicted that it would take that long to transition from the Indian Super League (ISL) to the national squad. Foreign players are at "crucial places" in the ISL, and "every time we come to a camp, we need to tell ourselves that here no foreigner will ask for the ball."

He added that many Indian players have various duties for both their clubs and the national team. So, "we need time if we're going to produce what the coach (Igor Stimac) wants." Thapa concurred with goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu that India's recent eight-game winning streak, which included seven clean sheets, was a result of their more than six weeks of practising together. He made reference to the semi-final matchup with Lebanon, which India won 4-2 in the tiebreaker after open play finished scoreless, and stated, "For the first time, I saw an Arab team wasting time."

In the SAFF competition, this was the strongest India team that Thapa had ever seen. "Considering the opposition we encountered and how we fared against Lebanon and Kuwait." Thapa expressed his gratitude to "Professor" for making him feel stronger. That is what strength and conditioning coach Luka Radman, who worked with the Croatian basketball team that won silver at the 1992 Olympics and the nation's team that placed third in the 1998 World Cup, is nicknamed.

He performs the workouts he instructs us to do in the gym. If we don't act like a man who is nearing 60, it can become awkward. Radman is 62 years old. Thapa claimed he had grown stronger throughout his four years working for Radman. "I can fight back now," India has actually received three red cards in their last four games. Sandesh Jhingan, a defensive stalwart, received two yellow cards during the group stage match against Kuwait.

The striker Rahim Ali received a straight red card, which resulted in their suspension. The game ended 1-1. Both are eligible for the championship game, but Stimac cannot play because of his second dismissal in as many games. Are the Indians adjusting to playing without Stimac in the starting lineup? In the Zoom call from Bengaluru, Thapa concluded his response with a quiet chuckle but stated that playing without Stimac would be detrimental given his expertise.

But the "fight" will continue. "We only want to win games as the Asian Cup approaches. In addition, we aim to develop the game rather than only play long balls. We have had enough of relaxing. We won't succeed if you don't demonstrate from the first minute that we are not here to be hit. We will also hit you if you strike us. Thapa, 25, claimed that the final round of the Asian Cup qualifying matches in Kolkata in June 2022 was when he first saw this change in mentality.

Thapa, an 18-year-old box-to-box midfielder signed from the Elite Academy of the All India Football Federation, was sent to FC Metz in Ligue 1 for a training stay by Chennaiyin FC. Moving to Mohun Bagan on a five-year contract is contrary to the goal of challenging himself in a more difficult league, but Thapa explained that "ISL too is growing" in order to support his decision.

Mohun Bagan won't be without difficulties, though. They play for victory. They will want a player to stay on the team if he is performing well. They won't check to see if there is another player in that spot already. So, it will be difficult for me to maintain my position on a squad that is India's national champion, he said.