Former Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has expressed regret for not advocating strongly enough for a separate training camp for the national team probables before crucial tournaments. In a recent interview, Chhetri reflected on India's failure to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup finals and admitted that he felt "bitter" about the situation.

Chhetri, who had briefly retired from the national team before returning in March, revealed that he had reservations about the team's preparation. He wished he had spoken up to push for a dedicated training period, similar to what was done before the 2011 Asian Cup. "Because whatever the turmoil, the national team will have to play, the qualifiers were the most important thing" Chhetri stated, emphasizing the significance of the national team's commitments. He suggested that selecting around 40 players, isolating them, and focusing on intense training could have been beneficial.

Chhetri believes that the Indian national team thrives on hard work, momentum, and favorable circumstances, and can't simply "turn up and win". He clarified that he wasn't definitively blaming the lack of a separate training camp for the team's failure to qualify but felt it would have improved their chances.

The former captain's comments came after he informed India head coach Khalid Jamil of his decision to step away from the national team once again. This interview was his first extensive media interaction since his return to the national side in March.

Looking back, Chhetri recounted watching the Qatar game in June 2024 with his mother in Bengaluru and initially not feeling the absence of being part of the national team. However, he was later convinced to return to the squad by Manolo Marquez, a decision he doesn't explicitly regret despite the disappointing Asian Cup qualification campaign. Chhetri emphasized that he gave his best during his appearances.

He also reflected on the tendency to assign blame after unfavorable results, recalling the aftermath of the 2015 qualification failure. Chhetri highlighted how, in moments of disappointment, fingers were pointed at various players, including himself. He stressed that with the passage of time, the specifics of who played and the blame game become irrelevant, and the focus shifts to the collective failure to achieve the desired result.

Chhetri's career includes 94 goals in 150 international appearances. He has been a prominent figure in Indian football, even visiting academies to inspire young players.