Indian coach Igor Stimac on Tuesday rued the difference in quality between Indian and Syrian players after the Blue Tigers succumbed to their third successive defeat in the AFC Asian Cup, losing to Syria 0-1 to bow out of the AFC Asian Cup after finishing last in their group.
Stimac made a few changes in the line-up against Syria, bringing in Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain Subhashish Bose in place of Nikhil Poojary and playing Sunil Chhetri as a second striker behind Manvir Singh. However, the changes proved futile as Syria rode on Omar Khirbin’s 75th minute goal to take the three points home. India defended valiantly in the game, but failed to stop Khirbin’s goal bound shot at the near post.
After the game, the Indian coach pointed out the difference in quality between both teams.
“The difference in quality between the Syrian players and us is the difference in the result today. The no. 7 (Omar Khirbin) who came on the pitch for Syria today, his market value is double the market value of my 11 players put together. On the market, he is worth 4.5 million USD, while the market value of my 11 players is 2.5 million USD. So that is a big positive for a coach to have a player like that who can be brought on for the last half an hour,” Stimac said in the post-match press conference.
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