Constantine says India now must try to qualify for big tournaments on a regular basis

For a team that conceded 13 goals in three games in the 2011 Asian Cup, India's performance under Stephen Constantine in the UAE earned praise from their opponents

It wasn't the gift Stephen Constantine was hoping to give his wife on her birthday. But having spent four years away from his family in his attempt to help the cricket-obsessed India get a foothold in Asian football, the English coach realised it was time to say goodbye.
"I am stepping down after this game," an emotional Constantine said after his players were left with broken hearts by the injury-time Bahraini penalty in their final Group A game that ended their hopes of entering the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time in history.
"My objective from day one has been to qualify for the Asian Cup. I have done that and I am exceptionally proud of the players," said the English coach who also managed India from 2002 to 2005.
"I thank the AIFF for the support. It's been huge. I think my cycle has finished. I did what I was asked to do and quite a bit more. But I have only seen my three daughters every three or four months and the time has come for me to move on."
For a team that conceded 13 goals in three games in the 2011 Asian Cup, India's performance in the UAE surprised many and even earned praise from their opponents.
But the team had made considerable progress in the last four years under Constantine, breaking into the top 100 of the Fifa rankings in 2017 for the first time in 21 years.
Now Constantine says India must try to qualify for big tournaments on a regular basis.
"Look, I was first with India from 2002 to 2005. I left the team in 2005 and the football in the country was in better place than it was in 2002 when I arrived," he said.
"Then from 2015 to 2019, they are now in a much better place than they were in 2005. We have a crop of young players who are the future of Indian football. They now need to qualify for these tournaments on a regular basis. I think India have the players and the talent pool to do that."
The Blue Tigers were just minutes away from entering the knockout stage, but a defensive error awarded Bahrain a penalty in the 90^th minute.
Jamal Rashed effortlessly converted the penalty in the 91^st minute to earn Bahrain's ticket to the next round and end India's hopes of making history.
"It's not the saddest day of my coaching career, but yes it wasn't a great day to be honest," Constantine said.
"Today's my wife's birthday, so she is going to be pretty upset. Look these things happen in football. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football and in life."
India, needing a draw to qualify for the next round, came up with a heroic defensive display only to falter in the dying minutes.
"To go out in the 90^th minute with a penalty is really tough. The boys gave everything," Constantine said.
"I am just disappointed for the boys who gave everything in the last three games."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com