Chennaiyin FC host Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday. The visitors are four points ahead of their fellow southern rivals and will look to distance themselves further with a win. Bengaluru FC’s Harmanjot Khabra has played previously for Chennaiyin FC and was also part of the side that won the Hero ISL crown in 2015. The defender took time to speak to indiansuperleague.com exclusively and shared his thoughts on the match ahead and the journey so far. Excerpts:

Bengaluru FC have been on top of the Hero ISL table for a while. How demanding is it to stay there?

If you have observed Bengaluru FC, you would have noticed that we fight for the championship. So, expectations are high and every person in the club is trying his best (towards this goal). It is difficult. Everyone wants to be on top, so it’s difficult when you are there. Every other team will try to pull you down, but we must work as a team to stay there. Hopefully, we will make it to the finals.

You are one of the most versatile Indian players around. What pushes you to perform in different positions?

It’s a challenge, and I love it. Facing different players in different positions is difficult. But if the coach is demanding something from me, it gives me the confidence to do well. It pushes me on the field. Somewhere in my mind, I feel it is my job to deliver for my side. It doesn’t matter where I play.

Who has been your football icon while growing up, and what has been your favourite football memory?

I watched La Liga a lot when I was young and followed Zinedine Zidane. He was a great player, and now he is a great coach at Real Madrid. In football, I have mostly played for East Bengal and Chennaiyin FC. I still remember the year we (Chennaiyin) won the title. We had lost almost all the matches, and no one was expecting us to do what we did. One fine day, the co-owner (of Chennaiyin FC) told us that she (Vita Dani) had already challenged the ATK owners that we would face them in the semi-finals. That’s something that pushed us. We would then go on to win the remaining matches, qualify for the playoffs, reach the final, and then beat Goa for the title. That was special. Scoring in injury time (against Goa in the final) – that will always be a special moment in my football career.

There are many young talents performing well in the league. Who has impressed you the most?

In Chennaiyin FC, there is Anirudh Thapa. He is doing great as a midfielder. He just started with me last year, and I remember the way he started. He has good potential to be a great player and play for the Indian national team as well. In my team, obviously the likes of Udanta (Singh), Daniel (Lalhlimpuia), Malsawmzuala, Nishu (Kumar) are all upcoming stars, and I hope they will rise to the moment and perform well.

You are adored in Chennai for your time with Chennaiyin FC. Is it always special for you to come here?

I have played in this same stadium for three years. So, it is always special for me. The fans have been brilliant, and my family has received great hospitality whenever they have been here. It would be good for me to perform well against them.

What are your thoughts regarding the upcoming Southern Derby? Any message for the travelling West Block Blues?

Bengaluru FC supporters are very special. They always support us wherever we go – even outside India. So, thanks for coming, and keep supporting us. Tomorrow, we play a derby and Chennaiyin are second on the points table. So, it is big. Everybody is looking forward to this match and I hope we can make the most of it and entertain everyone – fans in the stadium and ones who will be watching it back home. This is good for the development of Indian football.