The Indian senior men’s national team have begun preparations for their two upcoming fixtures in June. Under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, the Blue Tigers kicked off their training camp on Monday in Kolkata.

They will continue their sessions in the city before departing for Thailand on May 28, where they are scheduled to play an international friendly against the hosts on June 4. That match will be followed by a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier against Hong Kong in Kowloon City on June 10.

Marquez and his squad will be looking to make the most of this training camp to build momentum and secure positive results, particularly in the all-important qualifier against Hong Kong.

India registered their first win under the new Spanish head coach with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Maldives in a friendly played in March. However, they were unable to carry that momentum forward, as they played out a disappointing goalless draw against Bangladesh in their opening AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.

"It's true that for the game against Bangladesh, we lost very important starting players. But it's not an excuse for our poor performance in that game. We need to be aware that we have a difficult game in Hong Kong. We have time to prepare, to be competitive and try to win and get the three points,” Marquez told AIFF.com.

India may be the highest-ranked team in the group, but head coach Manolo Marquez insists that the gap between the four sides is minimal. With all teams locked on one point after the opening round, the group remains wide open—and every detail could make the difference.

The upcoming clash away to Hong Kong is expected to be a major test of India’s composure, consistency, and credentials in the race for AFC Asian Cup qualification.

"I feel that all the games are very difficult. I watched Singapore versus Hong Kong. Singapore played much better in the first half, and Hong Kong were better in the second. It was a very equal game like India-Bangladesh,” he said.

Before turning their focus to the decisive clash against Hong Kong, the Blue Tigers must first navigate a testing friendly against Thailand on their home turf.

For Manolo Marquez, the match presents an ideal platform to assess his squad, iron out flaws, and build rhythm ahead of the all-important qualifier.

"I see Thailand as a good preparation for the Hong Kong game because they are a Pot 1 team. I watched their game against Sri Lanka, and they won only 1-0. I feel Sri Lanka didn't deserve to lose that game,” opined the Spanish coach.

Marquez has injected fresh energy into the national camp by calling up a few new faces. Punjab FC midfielder Nikhil Prabhu and goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari have been rewarded for their consistent performances this season, while promising Mohun Bagan Super Giant forward Suhail Bhat earns his place after a standout showing in the Kalinga Super Cup.

All three will be eager to make their mark, and Marquez has spoken about what their inclusion brings to the national setup.

"Suhail is a player with very good movements in attack. We saw in the Super Cup that he's a player who can finish off actions well because his movements in the box are very good," said Marquez.

"I know Hrithik perfectly. In my opinion, he will be a top goalkeeper in India. Nikhil Prabhu is a player who is growing a lot. He was a centre-back but played great as a defensive midfielder as well. He's a complete player who is very good with the ball. He has improved a lot in aerial duels and is another player with a good future," the coach added.

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