We earned respect we never had, says coach Constantine

Sharjah, January 15 

India may have missed a maiden qualification into the knockouts by a whisker, but coach Stephen Constantine, who stepped down immediately after India lost against Bahrain on Monday, says the team's spirited showing in the Asian Cup football tournament has earned them the respect they never had. Starting AFC's continental showpiece event with a stunning 4-1 demolition of Thailand, India's campaign ended in heartbreak, as Bahrain converted an injury-time penalty to emerge winners.

“We were unlucky, to concede a penalty in the 91st minute is heartbreaking. But it shows everybody in India that we are capable, we have belief which we never had, we have respect which we never had and we have the determination,” said Constantine. “It's there for everybody to see. I wish nothing but the best for players, for the Indian federation and for the fans who support us.”  

This was Constantine's second stint with the Indian side after having been at the helm between 2002 and 2005. Though he would have loved to advance in the tournament, Constantine seemed content with his players' effort.

“They passed the expectations. It's not a question of they didn't live up to the expectations, they passed all expectations. I don't think anybody believed me when I said that we would qualify in 2015, I don't think anybody believed that we could qualify from the group. They believe now,” he said.

Second coming

Constantine returned to the hot seat for the second time in 2015 and under him India reached their second best FIFA rankings of 96 after slumping to 173, their worst ever, before his arrival. “The performance is a testament to a lot of hard work from a lot of people, players, staff. And of course the memorable win against Thailand, I don't think people will forget that in a hurry,” he said. 

“I will head back to India and go and speak to AIFF general secretary and thank him for his support. And my contract finishes in 10 days, so it's time. 

“I am going to go home. Spend some time with the family, lay on the couch and watch the best of Asian Cup. I think it's been a good four years, tough, difficult,” he said. — PTI  

Highlights of his tenure 

SAFF title 

India won their seventh SAFF Championship title. They beat Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal en route final, where they beat Afghanistan 

Intercontinental Cup title 

Constantine helped India clinch the 2018 Intercontinental Cup title. India beat Kenya 2-0n in the final 

Asian Cup

India tasted victory at the Asian Cup first time since 1964, hammering Thailand 4-1 in the opener 

FIFA ranking

India achieved their second best Fifa ranking, 96, under Constantine