We need to play tough away games before Asian Cup: Chhetri

Indian football team has turned into a decent home side but it is in desperate need for away games, says inspirational skipper Sunil Chhetri, who feels the next target for the country should be a top-10 place in Asia so that the big guns invite them over.

The 33-year-old was India's top-scorer with eight strikes in the just-concluded Intercontinental Cup which India clinched with a 2-0 win over Kenya in the final last night in Mumbai.

The prolific skipper is now aiming for a strong showing in the Asian Cup next year where India are clubbed with UAE, Bahrain and Thailand.

"For Asia Cup, the first thing that we need is to play many tough nations in away games. Well, whom we should be playing depends on the AIFF and our chief coach (Stephen Constantine) but we need away games now," Chhetri told PTI during an interaction on the sidelines of a promotional event organised by KIA Motors.

"Look, let's be honest. With our rankings (97), we can't invite the better ranked teams at home. Also we are a decent team at home. It's our away game that needs to improve," he added.

Chhetri, who yesterday equalled Lionel Messi's 64 international goals, further explained: "In my mind, the first goal is to get inside Asia's top 10 nations. We have to accept that we are still not there. Teams like Saudi Arabia, Iran or Australia are better than us."