ISL 2024-25: Renedy Singh lauds Sunil Chhetri after veteran’s hat-trick against derby rivals Kerala Blasters FC

Bengaluru FC assistant coach Renedy Singh showered praise on Sunil Chhetri after the veteran scored a hat-trick against derby rivals Kerala Blasters at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Super League on Saturday.

Chhetri scored in the eighth minute to put the Blues in front and then Ryan Williams doubled the team’s lead. However, Kerala Blasters FC bounced back in the second half with Jesus Jimenez and Lallawmawma finding the back of the net.

However, Chhetri once again put the home team in front in the 73rd minute and completed his hat-trick in the injury time. Chhetri was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Singh revealed that the team’s think tank has advised Chhetri to enjoy himself on the pitch as he has nothing to prove at the top level.

“Whenever I speak to him (Chhetri) or the coaches speak to him, as long as he plays for 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 70 minutes, or in the first 11, we tell him, ‘Give your best and just enjoy the game.’ He has done, as I said before yesterday, what he has to do in Indian football and international football. Yes, he should just enjoy the game and feel free. And that’s what we have seen today,” the assistant coach said in the post-match press conference.

The assistant coach added it was important for them to take out the positives after Odisha FC’s game.

“Like I said before the match we had to take all the positives from the second half of Odisha FC match and we did that exactly,” he added.

Singh admitted that they played at the top of their game in the first half but veered off the track in the second half. However, he was delighted with the way they defended in the second phase.

“Sunil (Chhetri) and Ryan (Williams) combining well, and I hope we just continue to do so because they did really well. It was one of the best first halves, but, then again, second half we didn’t start it like the way we started in the first half. But we defended well, and we could have killed the game in the second half also, the way we got chances.

“But this is a football game. I’m happy that we defended, but somehow Sunil got his third and it killed the game. So it was a good match from the boys, and we should take rest and we should just continue to do the same in the coming matches,” Singh added.

Bengaluru FC will next take on FC Goa at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday.