ISL 2021-22: Sunil Chhetri & Bengaluru FC continue poor run

ISL 2021-22: Bengaluru FC are currently languishing second from bottom with only a solitary win to their name. This has been their worst start in Indian football since the club’s inception. And their poor run of form was perfectly encapsulated in the 17th-minute of their game against FC Goa as their skipper and talisman Sunil Chhetri missed the easiest of chances to score. Follow ISL 2021-22 Live updates on InsideSport.IN

Also read: ISL 2021-22: Kerala Blasters’ goalkeeper Albino Gomes out for indefinite period with knee injury

Trailing 0-1 after an unfortunate own goal by Ashique Kuruniyan, Sunil Chhetri received a perfectly weighted ball just outside the six-yard box from Roshan Naorem. To everyone’s disbelief, the Indian national team captain made a hash of things and shot over the bar with the entire goal at his mercy.

ISL 2021-22: Sunil Chhetri and Bengaluru FC not the same force to be reckoned with? Watch video

As soon as he realised the enormity of his miss, Sunil Chhetri could be seen holding his head in disbelief. He is the highest Indian scorer in the Indian Super League but the miss meant the 37-year-old has yet to net in the opening six games.

An unbelievable miss from Sunil Chhetri earlier in the game! 🤯

Watch the #FCGBFC game live on @DisneyPlusHS – https://t.co/Wu39AqHvHa and @OfficialJioTV

Live Updates: https://t.co/rf8qBYH1QW #HeroISL #LetsFootball #ISLMoments https://t.co/O5wvWsZHPJ pic.twitter.com/tdyepkIXdD

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 11, 2021

“He is a human being. Sometimes you don’t have luck going for you. With the national team, he had a lot of luck as the ball fell to him many times and he scored five goals. Today (Saturday) he had a great chance and if he scores it’s 1-1,” said BFC boss Marco Pezzaiuoli in the post-match press conference.

“Normally he would score that with his eyes closed. In this hard time, he has the support of the team and also how he worked for the team was good. He needs more luck inside the box. It happens when you don’t work but with him he is working and it will come back.”

ISL 2021-22: Sunil Chhetri and Bengaluru FC not the same force to be reckoned with? Watch video

The Bengaluru FC management have time and again maintained that the process will take time and trust and patience is required. But Sunil Chhetri’s dip in form and the team’s overall ability to grind out results is making it very difficult for everyone associated with the club.

The Blues currently have only four points from six games with only one win and a draw while the remaining matches ended in defeats. They have now lost three on the bounce against defending champions Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC and now FC Goa. This is their worst points tally after playing the first six matches of the season.

When asked about his team’s chances of turning around the situation and making a surge towards the top four spots, BFC boss Marco Pezzaiuoli said,

ISL 2021-22: Sunil Chhetri and Bengaluru FC not the same force to be reckoned with? Watch video

“I see that step by step we are getting better. It is a new team with new players, but things like losing while having a man advantage cannot happen. The experienced players need to serve the team better.”

Former player Erik Partalu, who is currently a part of the commentary team for this season’s Indian Super League even went on to say he was not sure about what was going on with his former club.

“Trust the process, but the question has to be asked, what is the process?”

ISL 2021-22: Sunil Chhetri and Bengaluru FC not the same force to be reckoned with? Watch video

Football