The India U-17 team has put up some impressive results during their preparatory matches in Spain, but the focus remains squarely on the team’s upcoming campaign in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, which gets underway next month.
India have played four practice matches since shifting camp to Spain, winning two, while losing and drawing one each. The Blue Colts have faced Atletico de Madrid U-17s (4-1), Leganes U-18s (0-2), Atletico de Madrid U-16s (2-1), and Real Madrid U-18s (3-3) so far. Two more matches against Getafe U-18s and Atletico de Madrid U-17s are yet to be played. While sounding positive about the performance that his wards have dished out in the Iberian Peninsula so far, head coach Bibiano Fernandes stressed the need to keep focused on the road ahead in order to get the desired results in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup next month.
“I’ve always told the boys that it is a process and that the main goal for us is the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. We must maintain our focus. The performances have been good so far, but we are not looking at the results at the moment. We are looking ahead to improve as a team. We have told the boys to be humble and to learn the right attitude. We have to ensure that they don’t get relaxed after such results and keep playing good football, “ he said.
India have been placed in Group D of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, where they will play Vietnam (17 June ), Uzbekistan (20 June ), and Japan (23 June ). Bibiano’s boys will travel to Germany on 16 May for another two weeks of practice matches, before shifting base to Thailand at the start of June, to acclimatise ahead of the U-17 Asian Cup.