Why this coach is offering Indian football star a Myanmar passport

'The Indian captain is a cool customer and he's the most dangerous player'

'I am ready to give him a Myanmar passport'

Having made the cut, a buoyant Indian football team will fancy its chances when it lock horns with Myanmar in the return leg of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, in Margao, on Tuesday.

Stephen Constantine's men will be buoyed by their 12-match unbeaten streak in international football.

India qualified for the continental showpiece after crushing Macau 4-1, in a qualifier last month, and a point at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda would take them to the top position.

Myanmar coach Gerd Zaise praised Indian National Team skipper Sunil Chhetri highly during the pre-match press conference held at the Pandit JLN Stadium.

Referring to Chhetri’s goal making the difference between the two teams in the first leg, the German coach described Chhetri as the 'most dangerous player'.
 
"The Indian captain is a cool customer and he's the most dangerous player. We must take care of the counter attacks and the defence line must be cautious when it involves him,” Zaise stated.
 
The veteran Coach even went to the extent saying, “I am ready to give him a Myanmar passport,” a comment which the coach even made to Chhetri when the two met post the press conference.

Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan have four points each, while Macau are placed at the bottom of the table without a point.

Myanmar, having lost their home match against India 0-1 in Yangoon, have arrived here three days early to get used to the conditions, and a win tomorrow would keep them in the fray.

Myanmar coach knows the importance of the game.

"We have come here well prepared and have come three days early to get ourselves adjusted as we need to win. We were unlucky not to win at home after dominating the match, we created lots of scoring chances but our strikers failed to cash on them.

“India's defence is well organised and we need to play to our potential to win tomorrow," said Zeise.

India have done well under Constantine, including ending a 64-year wait against Myanmar by beating them 1-0 at home.