 Hello and welcome to a special episode of 420grams here on NewsClick.in. We have with us the man who was the star of India's recent historic nil-nil draw against the Asian champions, Qatar in Doha on September 10th. He also captained the side for that game, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is with us. The goalkeeper, the number one choice goalkeeper for both India as well as Bangalore FC. Great to have you on the show, it's the first time, bye. Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much for having me here, it's a pleasure. How are you doing man? How are things going? How is the recent stint with the national team been and how excited are you to be back in the flow of the next season? Well, those are a lot of questions, but I'm doing well. I was a little bit tired after the travel and everything, but really happy to join the club again and really happy to meet all of the boys and get back into that setup with the club. It has been a while, to be honest, so it's good to see everyone back and start working again with the club. We have some new faces as well in talented players like Rafael is there, young talent in Ashik, probably one of the best young keepers in Prapsukun Gill and legend of the club Eugene is back. So a lot of exciting things happening in the club, new faces, it's good to have that fresh energy around. So just trying to enjoy it with everyone and make sure that this one month, one and a half month is injury-free and everyone is ready for the league. And yeah, on the other side with the national team, it was sweet and sour, losing the first game at home. It wasn't exactly something that we wanted, but kudos to the boys to get back out there against Qatar and getting that result, man, because it's very hard to bounce back when there are least expectations regarding the performance and the result and getting that clean sheet and point against the best team in Asia right now was phenomenal. And just trying to build on that, because it's very important to have that consistency now, because we have shown ourselves that how much we are capable of when it comes to facing stronger teams. And now when we face Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which will be not easy, many people might think it's easy, but it won't be that easy. So we just need to be a bit more like sharp in our approach when we see those guys on the pitch. So yeah, a couple of things just leading from where you left off. Firstly, even in the national setup now, there's a lot that's been happening over the past few months with the new sort of backroom staff coming in. The new head coach, obviously, you have a new goalkeeping coach who you've spoken very highly of. So let's just start there actually, Gripreet. How much of a difference has the new backroom staff made in terms of the attitude as well as the tactical way in which the national team is playing and the way in which we saw you guys play the last two games? It has been a huge role, man. It's just been four months, we shouldn't forget that. And within these four months, the amount of progression each individual has made in terms of taking care of themselves physically and getting stronger mentally has been paramount and maybe the players who haven't been able to do that, unfortunately, don't join the camp again. But the boys who learn and keep going and do it, called once again in the camp, the backroom stuff is very, very experienced. We have Professor Luca, who's the physical trainer, highly experienced guy and knows what he's doing and, you know, he can probably get you in shape as well if you give time. It has been good so far, learning a lot from them. It's just that we need more time, you know, as I said, it's just been four months. I think with time, we'll learn more and, you know, try to enhance our performance and try to get as close as we can to our best selves and, you know, potential-wise as well. If you can add a little bit more about the mental side of things, would be because like now over the past, almost 10 years that you've been with the senior national team and it has almost been that long. Can't believe man. Yeah, it's pretty unbelievable. So that's how quickly the time is going past and how quickly also things are developing on the football front. I mean, when you started out, things were completely different in terms of the structure of both the domestic football as well as the national team. So from a mental point of view, what is sort of making you guys come together so much as a unit? You know, also, I mean, we keep mentioning Sunil because he is that vital to the national team, having him missing for a game as big as the Qatar game and yet going out and playing the full 90 minutes, 94 minutes like you guys did. What is the sort of mental bits that you're getting now that are different or helping you guys sort of step it up? See, it's a very interesting question and the answer to it is very lengthy because things have changed drastically in the last 10 years. You know, I have been lucky enough to experience that one of the big differences that we have in the national team is that we have new faces, fresh faces and people that who haven't been with the national team. For the last 10 years, only two players are there, you know, to maximum three, if JJ comes and that gives you a huge opportunity as a player when you're young to learn so much and bring in what you have learned. And what I have seen that the amount of attention paid on stuff which happens outside the field is so huge that it brings the team together, you know, you talk about how to eat, how to sleep, people go on YouTube and search about, you know, stuff they can do individually to get better. So that focus towards becoming a great individual into best of themselves is something that is there in the team right now, which I think wasn't there 10 years ago when I was there in the team. So that progression mentally has been, has been there. And so watching from outside, one of the things that a lot of some of us have commented on about your game personally is the impact of the number of games, competitive games that you get to play, and how that leads into your decision making, particularly when you're in such a critical position as that of a goalkeeper, where, I mean, set pieces or anything like that, your decision making when you come off the line, to grab a corner or whatever it is, is critically important to what happens in that sort of chunk of the pitch. And in the game against Qatar again, you didn't put a foot wrong and you could see that the confidence in you when you were coming out to grab those corners, etc, was whether you were punching it or catching the ball. It seemed like there's an up in your sort of thought process as well as your confidence levels. So why is the, is Rogic, the goalkeeping coach doing something differently for you as well as the other keepers in the national setup? See, in terms of training, it is really good because he's come from a level where we all want to go. And the training is very demanding and he's also very demanding. I want you to do your best in every single session. And when it comes to goalkeeping, I think it's all about experience. Like for me now, I have played enough games that I know that I can trust on my anticipation and go for a certain ball or not. But games do help a lot. I think I was good enough in Qatar only because I got to play those 90 minutes before against Oman because it was kind of getting the rest off that we had by not playing enough games before the Oman game. So I think the more games you play, it's better. And I think I was talking to one of my friends, Joe Morrison, I know, and he was talking about this with me that if you look at all the goalkeepers or any players outside India or maybe in Europe, by the time they are 21, they have already played so many games that they already have done those mistakes that we do at the age of 24, 25, because we haven't got that much of game time as kids. So that's why you see players like Ansu Farhi scoring and assisting in the bus and jersey. It's all about having that game time and that experience at a very young age so that you do all your mistakes and then by the time you're 21, 22, you're ready to play at a high level. That's what implies us as well. So how do you think this will pan out and you guys have now, some of you senior players, yourselves, Andesh, you've come out and talked about this issue with the number of competitive fixtures. In your opinion, what is an ideal way to achieve this sort of a structure where you're getting 35, 40 games, competitive games every year? See, it's a very complicated situation and I know that people are working on it and it's difficult to do it in a snap because there might be like previous commitments or something like that. But I'm not in a position to tell people what to do. I'm pretty sure that they know it already because Indian football used to have that many games before in the past. So I mean people know the outside just how to achieve that. How to put it together basically. Coming back, I just want to talk a little bit about some of these younger players in the national setup particularly. Are you thinking or when you see it from your perspective, are they coming into like some of those, you know, the either technical aspects of training or the fact that at age group levels, they are getting more and more games increasingly. At least something is happening there. Youth leagues are happening. You get to go outside if you're with the national team. So plus coaching is of a much higher standard I think right now. At least it's similar to what happens elsewhere in the world. So these things are being achieved. How do you look at these young boys who come in, whether it's Narendra or Amarjit or even Manvi and these guys. It's amazing man. The more talent you have at your disposal, it's better. I mean I'm very, very happy from what they have experienced in the past two years, three years in the junior setups. And that's just the beginning. You know, if it happens for a long time, we have many more players, many more young talents which come through the ranks. And it's all about giving it time because these players are good enough. What we were at 16, they are way beyond that level. You know, they have more awareness. They are good with the ball, confident with the ball, not scared to play. Look at Amarjit, look at all these players. You can't imagine a player like me playing for India at the age of 17. We weren't that good enough back then. And now you have players who are 17, 18, taking into the national team. That shows that if you trust in the process of giving young talent and giving them enough resources, you have players at your disposal. This is something you've said actually over, it's quite remarkable, but you've said it to me at least a number of times. Whether it was before you went off to Norway or while you were there or even after coming back, that her cheese ka apna sahi time hota hai and if you maintain or if you stay patient and trust in the process then things happen. Trust in the process is superb and we're seeing it happen in the short run here very quickly. But I'm sure some of these younger guys, because you've gone and played in Europe, Europa League and all of that, younger guys must be asking you what is the way forward, what is the answer. How important is it for young Indians to get out, see more, play in different parts of the world, learn from there and then perhaps come back. Param, the importance of that is incomparable to what they get in India. No doubt we are progressing, but if you look at, especially just the Asian countries, all the best players are playing outside of their countries and the best leagues of the world because for a reason. And I mean it depends on person to person. Some people at a young age want to play more, want to earn more, especially with the hyping offers flowing around in India right now. I understand it's difficult, circumstances are difficult, but for me personally, if you're 16, 17, 18 and you have an opportunity to go outside, sit on a reserve bench, train with the reserve team day in, day out, you should do it because it'll make you a different player. I wish I went there at the age of 16. Chetri Bhai tells me all the time he wishes he went at 16 because we know what happens once you play. You won't get to play, but you learn so much. So do you see guys who have the potential to get reserve team squads spots? Of course, without a doubt. If I can make, that's what I give as an example. If I can make it, people are good enough man over here who can go there and fight for a position. It's just about the potentiality to do it. Because if a medium talent like me can go into it, a highly talented player, for example, I'm just giving an example. I like how modestly you're saying also that you're a medium talented player with some gift. Why it's the truth? Hard work and natural attributes. Basically, you're saying it's down to luck? It's not like that. Something will be talented. Fair enough. So coming to the club squad and of course one of the most successful franchises in new clubs in the country. How are you guys prepping for the upcoming season? Anything you're doing differently this time round? I don't think so. What our coach has said from day one is that we are not going to give complacence. Yes, we won but that doesn't change anything. The mentality of the club has been to start from zero, start from scratch and try to reach the playoffs in the ISL and then see what happens in those knockout games. But for me as a player, I know that if we are able to achieve that consistency that we had last year, we have more chances of doing better. So as a team, the most difficult thing is consistency and repetition. Champions team and not champions team, that's the difference. They're consistent and some not. One last question and of course you are not in a position to really say much on this except that from a fans perspective, over the past few years, Bangalore have built up a pretty great community around the club and a lot of that community action is based at the Kanthirva stadium where your home games happen. With this ongoing tussle for the ground itself, for the use of the stadium between Bangalore FC and the other people, the PSI athletes that use the stadium, if, God forbid, you have to move somewhere, then how much difference will it make as a club that you have tried to build up? See, it will make a huge difference. You can't close your eyes and be like, there's no difference. We have to address the elephant in the room. Of course, it's going to make a huge difference if Bangalore is not playing in Bangalore. But we understand the circumstances that if it's not in our control, then we'll have to look at the other option and still do the job. That's what a professional has to do. The decision is yet to come. So we just need to have our fingers crossed and let's see what happens. Fair enough. I think on that note, we'll wrap it up. Thank you so much for taking the time to come on the show and we will keep bothering you. I am very impressed with our spoke. The English has got better. Much better. With time as all things do. With time. Of course. Just like a beard. Thanks for taking the time. Good luck for the rest of pre-season. We'll see you in Calcutta for the game against Bangladesh on the 15th of next month. Thank you. Just make sure everything is recorded. Everything is recorded. Thanks brother. Take care. Thank you. Bye.