Mumbai City FC’s young striker Ayush Chhikara is inching closer to making his return from a long-term injury. The young forward was sidelined for a long time after suffering a knee injury. But now determined to make an even bigger impact, Chhikara who currently idolizes Erling Haaland wants to replicate the heroics of the Norwegian in India.
Mumbai City FC are currently placed 8th in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings have had a rough start to their campaign for the new season. But the return of Chhikara will be a big boost for Petr Kratky and his boys. The young forward hogged all the limelight after he slammed 3 goals in the Kalinga Super Cup last season. In an exclusive interaction with InsideSport, Chhikara laid down his plans, dreams, and ambitions.
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Recovery and Return?
The young prolific striker is currently in the final stage of his recovery. He has gradually started training with the team and the day is not faraway when he will take the field.
“The recovery is going on well now. I’m almost in the final stages. It’s been hard the past few months, but, I’m at a good point now. I’ve started training with the team. I’m feeling good. It’s just a matter of time before I step back on the pitch again,” Chhikara told InsideSport.
“Since I joined this club, they helped me and they supported me a lot throughout this journey. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. And no matter what, they have supported me throughout, for which I can be grateful. It’s the best club to develop as a youngster because of the playing style and the environment here. It’s a very friendly environment, and all of them help each other to learn. Yeah. It helped me to be a better player, you know, and helped a lot of things since I joined, Mumbai City FC from the academy,” he added.
The young striker is filled with determination. He plans on making a strong comeback for the team. But his ambition lies in scoring more and more goals for the Islanders in the Indian Super League. He claimed that recovering from a long injury needs a player to be mentally strong.
“I want to keep that momentum, keep, going in the ISL also, and I just wish to score as many goals for the club and the country. It’s my goal. Going through such a long-term injury is not easy, but, I only learned throughout this that we have to be mentally strong. And no matter what, I have to come back stronger, and I have to score goals for the club. That’s what my job is. So, I’m keeping myself mentally strong, I’m preparing to come back,” Chhikara added.
Idolizing Erling Haaland
As far as his playing style goes, the young striker for the Islanders claimed that he prefers being a fox in the box. He went on to explain, that being in front of the box helps in scoring multiple goals. An as far his own liking and style goes, he doesn’t prefer to drop deep and help in the build-up play.
“I would just prefer a role like that of Erling Haaland. It’s More of my style is, like, the target man. I prefer staying around the box, in and around the box because from there, it’s the place from where I can score. I don’t like being far away from the goal. I just like being near it so I can get chances and I can score goals,” he added.
From on striker of the City group to another, Chhikara currently idolizes Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. He claims he tries to learn and pick things from other footbalers and he looks up to the Norwegian striker to learn more from him.
“Erling Haaland is my favorite footballer at the moment. I try to learn as much as I can, whether it’s in my position or a different position. I try to pick things which is good for me. And if you say otherwise, I basically look more to Erling and how he’s playing style and all that. I try to learn from him,” Chhikara concluded.
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