After the 0–1 defeat against Hong Kong, the Indian football team head coach Manolo Marques said that the atmosphere of the dressing room is similar to the funeral. However, he is optimistic about the possibility of the team qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. On Tuesday, India scored a goal in the fifth minute of injury time, causing it to face defeat. The Indian team failed to score goals in the second consecutive match. This defeat has shocked India’s possibilities of qualifying for the Asian Cup.
In response to the question related to the future of the team, Manolo said in a press conference after the match that, we are not very happy, we are sad. The atmosphere of the dressing room is practically similar to the site of the funeral.
He also said that, but I still feel that India has a chance to qualify.
Currently, only group winners of qualifying will get a place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia, so India’s ahead is not going to be easy. India has only one point of two matches in Group C.
Manolo said that we are not in good times. In terms of score, it is becoming difficult for us to score. But it is true that the team played in a systematic way compared to other matches. It is true. But unfortunately we could not take any points here.