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India's head coach Igor Stimac has expressed his dissatisfaction with the preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup in Doha, stating that he does not consider it an important tournament due to the lack of a proper national camp.
Stimac had requested at least four weeks of a national camp ahead of the continental competition, which commences on January 12. However, the ongoing first phase of the Indian Super League (ISL) until December 29 makes it unlikely for clubs to release players for an extended training camp.
The coach is expected to have less than 10 days to train with the entire national team before facing formidable opponents such as Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in India's group. Expressing his frustration, Stimac bluntly remarked, "We did not get what we wanted. You give me time, and I might provide results for you. Without the time, do not ask about the results or anything like that. Just forget it."
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Stimac emphasised the challenges India faces in comparison to other countries, noting that many teams participating in the Asian Cup will be well-prepared with long training camps. He expressed concerns about the lack of time to prepare adequately, especially when facing teams like Uzbekistan, who he claims will have a six-week preparation.
In addition to his concerns about the limited training time, Stimac highlighted the need for improvements in the organization and logistics of the national team set-up. He pointed out that other nations, such as Qatar, invest more in a single trip than India does in an entire year for all selections, calling for enhancements in various aspects, including travel, logistics, food, and rest.
Despite a 0-3 loss to Qatar in a World Cup second-round qualifiers match, Stimac expressed satisfaction with the team's performance. "Overall, I am happy because the result (against Qatar) was not our priority. My priority as a coach was to get answers to some questions which were haunting me for some time," he said.
"We are not having any more games prior to the Australia match in the Asian Cup. I have my answers and this was a huge win out of this game. I have a clear picture, clarity of what needs to be done and who are the players who can go there," the Croatian added.
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