Pratiksha Ghosh
Kolkata, May 22 2025:Fresh off a stellar domestic season with Mohun Bagan Super Giant and recently named the AIFF Men's Player of the Year, defender Subhasish Bose is more motivated than ever as he joins the Indian national football team ahead of the June FIFA International Window.
Speaking during a training session in Kolkata, Bose reflected on his form and expressed optimism about India's upcoming fixtures against Thailand on June 4 and Hong Kong on June 10, the latter a key AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.
“This season has gone really well for me, and it has definitely boosted my confidence. But it also pushes me to work harder, improve further, and give my best for the country,” said the 29-year-old left-back.
The Blue Tigers are currently training at the AIFF National Centre of Excellence in Kolkata, Bose’s hometown. He praised the facilities and expressed pride in preparing for international duties on home soil.
“It feels great to train in Kolkata. The infrastructure here, especially the quality of the pitches, makes a big difference in our preparation,” he noted.
A seasoned international with 42 caps, Bose played every minute of India’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup campaign and now eyes his third appearance in the continental tournament. His leadership and consistency at the back have been instrumental, and his six goals in the Indian Super League this season mark a rare scoring achievement for a defender.
While yet to score for India, Bose is more focused on the team’s collective goals. “We have many creative players, and with Sunil Chhetri back, we’re hopeful of scoring and keeping clean sheets in the upcoming matches.”
He acknowledged that recent performances showed areas needing improvement but expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to fix those issues during the training camp.
“Coach Manolo has been very clear on what we need to work on. We’re focused on ironing out the small mistakes from past matches to be fully ready,” he stated .
As the national team regroups after a demanding club season, Bose emphasised the significance of syncing up under a unified system.
“We all come from different club systems, but now it’s about tuning ourselves to the coach’s plan and playing with the same mentality. That’s how we’ll succeed.”
With high stakes on the horizon, Bose’s words echo the mood in the Indian camp—driven, united, and determined to achieve more in blue.
