“I have not played in Goa, and you might think conditions would be absolutely different from Kolkata. In Kolkata you can have a 1,00,000-plus crowd encouraging or discouraging you, but it’s how you handle it. I never felt the pressure while playing for East Bengal as the club was very supportive. I would look forward to that kind of support at Dempo,” Chhetri told Sportline.

The Indian striker will fly to Goa before joining the Delhi Santosh Trophy team in Chennai and is hoping to carry on the camaraderie he shares with his national team mates. “Having shared the dressing room with Climax (Lawrence), Mahesh (Gawli), Clifford (Miranda) and Anthony (Pereira) for the national team, co-ordination wouldn’t be a problem. Ranty (Martins) is a good friend too,” Chhetri said.

Dempo have gone about their priority of international success with remarkable success — despite makeshift arrangements like pushing Beto up with Ranty in the absence of Mboyo Iyomi — and Chhetri is not taking his place for granted.

“Dempo’s focus on international meets and their performance over the last 3-4 years, including the AFC Cup, is one of the reasons I wanted to join them. Making a name there would certainly make a difference but it remains a challenge and my place in the team isn’t guaranteed. I will have to fight for my place as I had to do in East Bengal. Even here (Delhi) I have been attending the camps every day to keep fit,” said Chhetri, who will be leading Delhi in the Santosh Trophy beginning May 24 in Chennai.

Clash of interest
The striker’s personal goals with Coventry City can clash with the team’s interest in the long run, but Chhetri has got clearance from the club and expects to finish it off before the grind starts.