Asian Cup is at different level altogether: Chhetri

The Intercontinental Cup triumph was an achievement in itself but the Asian Cup next year would be a different ball game, Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri said today.

"It (Intercontinental Cup) was a great preparatory tournament for us. We don't play teams like Kenya and New Zealand everyday. It was a different challenge. No matter how much we improve, it might still be less," Chhetri told reporters after receiving the Indian Player of Year at the Football Players Association of India Awards here.

"Let me correct you, with due respect to Kenya and New Zealand the teams that are competing against us in the Asian Cup -- Thailand, Bahrain and UAE -- they are at least two-three levels up. It's a different level altogether."
"Where we want to reach is very very far. We are just taking small steps. There is no point getting carried away. We should work hard keeping our heads down and try to keep improving ourselves."