Sunil Chhetri

“When your physical energy and mind combines, it's great.”

“I'm a Bangalore boy.”

“I just want to do well with the national team.”

“I have become vegan - I don't take dairy or meat. It has helped me a lot in terms of recovery and digestion.”

“I'm always hungry to score.”

“Football is all about fans.”

“Little by little, not by making big promises, I need to be calmer, read more, spend more time with my loved ones, and be more mindful about nature and environment.”

“Without sounding biased, 70 days of football is not enough. Even if Messi plays 70 days he cannot be in the national team. You need to play around the year to be in contention for the national team.”

“What the ISL has done is create the hype and buzz around football that it very badly needs.”

“The best part about being in your thirties is you know what works for you.”

“I was also a junior and I know how you learn from seniors, that's how you follow. Speeches don't work.”

“If anyone remembers me, it's about my hard work.”

“I idolised IM Vijayan and Krisanu Dey when I started watching football. After that, it was Bhaichung Bhutia in India and Brazilian Ronaldo abroad.”

“As long as I am playing competitive football I am happy.”

“After the 12th class exam results, I got a call from Mohun Bagan. They saw me at Durand Cup when I was playing for City Club of Delhi. I thought they might want me for SAIL Academy. Never ever I thought Mohun Bagan is calling me for Mohun Bagan!”

“It doesn't matter who you are - if you dream big and if you work really hard, you can achieve unimaginable results, and that's really good for the nation.”

“To go to the field and train and understand when days are less, that's where experience helps.”

“At the end of the day, we started playing football because we loved it.”

“I am very strict about what I eat. I do not consume anything that my body does not require. It takes a lot of sacrifice and discipline. It wasn't easy before but now its second nature for me.”

“My family supported me a lot and my father flew in to stay with me from time to time.”