Indian U23 Coach Miranda confident in team’s tactical discipline for China clash

After the Maldives pulled out of their opening match in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, India’s U23 team faces a more challenging task against host China.

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The Indian U23 team encountered an unexpected challenge as their opening match in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers was canceled due to a last-minute withdrawal by the Maldives. Now, their journey to qualify for the next stage of the competition has become even more demanding.

Their initial test in this campaign will be against the host nation, China, in the revised fixture. This development has left Clifford Miranda, the chief coach of the Indian U23 squad, preparing for a tactically challenging encounter.

The Indian U23 side has been diligently training at the Dalian Sports Centre for the past four days, adapting to the new schedule.

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Coach Miranda, having conducted four training sessions in China, is eager to showcase his team’s abilities in the upcoming match against China at the Dalian Suoyuwan Stadium on Saturday.

“Fortunately, due to Maldives’ withdrawal, we gained two additional days of training, which turned out to be a blessing. The extra time allowed me to impart valuable tactical knowledge to the players,” Miranda shared when discussing the recent training sessions.

Miranda also expressed his admiration for how quickly his players have adapted and bonded since the formation of the new team.

“The players’ attitude and their eagerness to learn have been truly impressive. The strong camaraderie and unity that these players have built in such a short time have created a positive atmosphere within the team. The fact that most of the players have known each other since their days in youth setups and clubs is an added advantage. I hope the teamwork and togetherness I observe off the pitch will translate to success on the field,” Miranda stated, as quoted by aiff.com.

With the Maldives withdrawing from the tournament, the coaching staff had the opportunity to observe China PR and UAE play to a goalless draw in the first game of the meet on Thursday.

“We are facing two formidable opponents. We noticed that China PR preferred counter-attacking, while UAE was comfortable building up from the back. However, our primary focus is on tomorrow’s game against China,” Miranda commented.

“We anticipate China will come out strongly, fueled by a sense of desperation since it will be their last tournament match. For us, it’s the first game, which I’ve always emphasized as the most crucial for any team,” the head coach added.

Miranda concluded, “While it may be said that both teams currently have an advantage over us, I firmly believe that if we stay united, play as a cohesive unit, and maintain our tactical discipline, we can achieve the desired results.”

In conclusion, Coach Miranda assured everyone that his team would deliver an outstanding performance on the following day, marked by determination and tenacity, in the hope of securing a favorable outcome.

-IANS

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