Indian football team head coach Manolo Marquez wants the one-off friendly against Maldives to be a good dress rehearsal ahead of their crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier game against Bangladesh.

The Blue Tigers will host the Red Snappers in the forthcoming fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Wednesday. Having gone winless in 2024, India will target their first victory against Maldives, ranked 162 in the world, to set the tone ahead of the high-stake clash against the Bangladesh side next week.

Having gone unbeaten in 17 of their 21 outings against Maldives, Marquez’s men will aim to carry on their dominant streak against the island nation. However, the Spaniard made it clear that their target is to find the perfect combination and get back the positive momentum against the Red Snappers prior to the crucial Bangladesh tie.

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"It's a friendly game to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifier. Obviously, we want to win. We knew that the target during the previous FIFA windows was to arrive in the best possible condition for the first competitive match against Bangladesh next Tuesday,” Marquez said in the pre-match press conference.

"I don't think we will play with the same team against Bangladesh that will play tomorrow (on Wednesday). Obviously, you can't change all 11. Some will repeat on Tuesday. I'm confident in all my players. It has to be a good game and a good preparation for Bangladesh," he added.

The friendly against Maldives as well as the AFC Asian Cup qualification third-round game will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The capital of Meghalaya possesses a different challenge with its high altitude, chilly temperatures and misty condition.

Marquez revealed that he was impressed with Shillong’s atmosphere, fan support, and many other aspects when FC Goa played few Durand Cup games back in 2024.

Speaking in context, the Blue Tigers’ head coach remarked, "It is the first time we are playing here, but I have worked with a lot of coaches and players from here. I knew it's a very nice place.”

“I remember when I watched the Durand Cup in Shillong last year, I said, 'Wow, the ground, crowd, atmosphere, everything is nice.' I'm not joking, I said, I said it'd be great if one day, the national team could play here."

Sunil Chhetri’s decision to come back to the Indian squad after previously announcing his retirement will not only bolster the forward line but also boost India’s Asian Cup qualification hopes. The former captain’s inclusion has arguably been a hot topic since it was announced, and it created waves of optimism amid Indian fans.

Chhetri has been in great form with Bengaluru FC in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season. The veteran forward is the second-highest top scorer in the league and the top Indian scorer with 12 goals.

Marquez revealed that the former captain's recent form earned him a place in the squad but did not guarantee Chhetri a start against Maldives.

"For sure, Sunil (Chhetri) will play some minutes. I don't know whether as a starter or from the bench. We can use six substitutions, so 17 players can play, and I think Sunil will be one of them,” the head coach shared.

"He is the Indian player with the most goals this season. It doesn't matter if a player is 20, 40, or my grandfather at 87. If they are in better shape, they will be here. The national team is not about developing players. Developed players have to arrive here. The main team needs to win games. And if we need to win games, we need to call players who are in better shape," he concluded.

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2024-2025 Sunil Chhetri