Coach Stephen Constantine says the Indian football team has done enough in the last few years to merit a decent crowd turnout, and begging for support was one thing it did not deserve.
Constantine was asked about skipper Sunil Chhetri's impassioned plea urging people to come and cheer the team in the ongoing Intercontinental Cup here.
Chhetri's video post struck a chord with the Mumbaikars, who turned up in droves for the second game against Kenya, two days after giving the tournament opener a miss.
It was Chhetri's 100th international game and he made it memorable by scoring a brace and guiding India into the final following a 3-0 win.
As the discussion turned to crowd at the post-match press conference, Constantine said, "look, I have said it before and I don't feel that we should be begging people to come and watch the national team.
"The response today was unbelievable, what I expect from the Blue Pilgrims and the rest of the people, it's not only the Blue Pilgrims.
"... But the national team is playing in the manner, we've been playing for last three and half years, and the things that we have achieved in three and half years, (and) we still feel disappointed to see such a crowd in the last game.
He added, "On Monday I thank every single one of them and I expect them to be here for the following two games."
From 2000 for the game against Chinese Taipei, the number of fans swelled to almost 9000 for Monday night's match, pretty impressive for a stadium that can accommodate around 10000 people.
Courtesy the win, India are in the final of the competition, to be played on June 10, and before that they take on New Zealand on Thursday.
Constantine said that he was delighted over this win and for Chhetri.
"I was thinking before this game, who is going to spoil this day for him (Chhetri) and for us. I am delighted that he got a couple of goals and obviously delighted that we won. So, I don't think that he is going to forget it for some time," the coach stated.
Constantine said that the aim was to make the final of the four-nation tournament.
"Firstly I am going to congratulate the boys for a hard-fought win. Difficult conditions obviously because with the rain, we couldn't play particularly well in the first half, gave them too much space, difficult to play in those conditions.
"By the way another clean-sheet, thank you (pointing towards Sandesh Jhinghan). It takes us into the final of this tournament, which is what we wanted to achieve from the beginning. (Focus on) next game (now)," noted Constantine.
The gaffer highlighted the work rate of the players in the comprehensive victory and also pointed out that the performance in the second half was far better than the first.
"… But in the second half, we did the job that we were supposed to do. As we did in the previous game, won most of the second balls in the second half, controlled the tempo, controlled the pace.
Kenya, they are always going to be a difficult side, whichever team they bring. I am very pleased at winning," he added.
"The second half, we were much much better and that is the reason we won the game," Constantine noted.
The head coach also said that at the lemon break, players were showed clippings of how the proceedings went in the first half.
He thanked the staff at the Andheri Sports Complex for the work they put in, despite heavy rain lashing in the first half.
He also requested the government to send a team to the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, central defender Sandesh Jhinghan opined that there was no added pressure for the game.
"There is never any pressure to play in front of such a full crowd. It was extra motivation from the moment we entered the stadium. We knew we had to deliver and we did," Jhinghan said.
India should do well in Asian Cup
Kolkata: Heaping praise on his former teammate and skipper Sunil Chhetri, veteran India defender Gouramangi Singh on Tuesday backed the Indian team to deliver in the Asian Cup next year owing to their recent performances.
India rode Chhetri's second half double on his 100th game for the country to blank Kenya 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup and storm into the final.
Jeje lalpekhlua also got on the scoresheet with a delectable pile driver off a rebound as India made it two out of two wins. They had thrashed Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the tournament opener thanks to a Chhetri hattrick.
Under coach Stephen Constantine, India have won 13 of their last 16 games and with this meet being taken as a preparation to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Gouramangi said the team is just on the right track.
"like they say winning is a habit, every win gives the team a moral high. Sunil is the leader and gives the final touch but since football is a team game, we cannot overlook or deny the excellence of each member in the team," Gouramangi said.
Gouramangi was part of India's last Asian Cup campaign in 2011 where they lost all three group games.
"I feel India will do very well in the Asian Cup next year. The rest of the team (barring Chhetri), Jeje, Sandesh also Udanta (Singh), Pritam (Kotal), Anas (Edathodika), Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu) are the ones who lead up to the wins," said the veteran centre-back who was an integral part in India's 2008 AFC Challenge Cup win where Chhetri scored a treble in the final.
In next year's Asian Cup, India have been clubbed with Bahrain, Thailand and United Arab Emirates in Group A.
On Chhetri, Gouramangi jogged back time to the days when they shared the dressing room, stating that the iconic striker deserves all the accolades on completing a century of caps for the national team.
"He deserves every bit of the milestone. We all work hard but he has done it for so long and with such consistency. It's no cakewalk.
"We had some memorable years together with the national team which we all will cherish for life," Gouramangi said.
Chhetri now has 61 goals for the country, just behind superstars lionel Messi (64) and Cristiano Ronaldo (81).
India take on higher-ranked New Zealand on Thursday. The final is on Sunday.
Tributes flow in for chhetri
New Delhi: The Indian sporting fraternity, led by sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, on Tuesday hailed the national football team skipper Sunil Chhetri for his "super achievement" of playing 100 matches for the country.
Chhetri became only the second Indian footballer after former captain Bhaichung Bhutia to feature in 100 matches for the country. The landmark game was the one against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai last night.
It was a memorable match for Chhetri, who turns 34 in August, as he scored twice in India's 3-0 win over the African side in front of a packed crowd at the Mumbai Football Arena.
"A special victory indeed. Well done, #TeamIndia! Super achievement @chetrisunil11 on your 100th appearance and the 2 goals," Tendulkar said on his Twitter handle.
Rathore tweeted, "A superb and well deserved win by our @IndianFootball team. Congratulations to the team for the 3-0 win against Kenya today! @chetrisunil11 lead from the front and scored 2 goals in his 100th match!"
Bhutia, who has played for the country 104 times, described Chhetri as a "genuius player".
"Congratulations @chetrisunil11 for the 100th match for #India. It has been a great pleasure to see you reach here. Great achievement from a genius player! #captain," Bhutia tweeted.
Head coach Stephen Constantine understandably gave a cautious reaction on Chhetri's milestone as he would not want to single out any of his players in the team.
"He is a great servant of Indian football," he said before the match when asked about Chhetri.
Former India cricketers V V S laxman and Virender Sehwag also congratulated Chhetri on achieving the feat.
"Congratulations India on beating Kenya 3-0 in #IntercontinentalCup2018; Skipper @chetrisunil11 was brilliant leading from the front, scoring twice in his 100th match. Fantastic performance," laxman said.
"What a fantastic victory. Congratulations @chetrisunil11 on your 100th international match and for making it extra special with the two goals and a fantastic victory in front of a packed stadium. Great news for @IndianFootball," Sehwag tweeted.
Jeje lalpekhlua, who also scored against Kenya last night, tweeted: "Captain, leader, legend".