Can beat any side, says Dynamos’ Chhangte ahead of Super Cup opener
NEWDELHI: To say Delhi Dynamos FC had a disappointing Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 is an understatement. Miguel Angel Portugal’s side played attractive football that was praised by many, but they only got a good string of results under their belt after their chances of making the playoffs were gone.
Thus, it is imperative they have a good showing in the Super Cup, starting with the qualifiers on Thursday. The final rounds begin on March 31.
Delhi, having finished outside the top six, will play a qualifier against the relegated Churchill Brothers on Thursday. The qualifiers of the tournament will be played between teams who finished between 7th and 10th in the ISL and I-League respectively.
Should they win, they will face Mohun Bagan in the round of 16. However, Dynamos winger Lallianzuala Chhangte fancies their chance thanks to their late season resurgence. “We played some of the best football in the ISL in the later half of the season, so I am confident we can beat any side in India at this point. The arrival of players like (Manuel) Arana and (Xabier) Irureta also gave us a lot of confidence,” Chhangte said in an interview.
“We want to correct all the mistakes we made earlier in the season, and what better way to do so than winning a Cup,” he added.
NEROCA FACE GOKULAM
A creditable second-place finish in the I-League will act as a confidence-booster when Neroca FC face Gokulam Kerala in the Super Cup qualifiers on Thursday.