Bengaluru: A decade ago, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was breaking new ground for Indian football. But now at 34, one of the finest goalkeepers in the country, finds himself facing questions over whether his best years are behind him.
The Indian shot stopper has been subjected to intense criticism during India’s recent friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay, with fans taking to social media to vent their anger on the goals conceded. Bengaluru FC head coach Pep Munoz, though, is having none of it.
Ahead of his side’s Indian Super League opener against Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday, the Spanish gaffer offered an unequivocal defence of his star glovesman.
“For me, Gurpreet is the best goalkeeper in the country,” Munoz said on Thursday. “Everyone makes mistakes, but social media often fixates only on the negatives. Nobody mentions his opening 25 minutes against Brazil, where his saves against Vinicius and his distribution with his feet were perfect.”
It is quite a fall in public perception for a goalkeeper who became the first Indian to feature in a UEFA Europa League qualifier when he turned out for Norwegian club Stabaek in 2016. The European adventure also made him the first Indian to play in any European league.
Those achievements, alongside his years as India’s first-choice goalkeeper, have secured Gurpreet a place among the country’s most accomplished footballers. Yet goalkeeping is often an unforgiving profession, where every mistake is magnified. The two opening goals conceded against Brazil – both of which could have been saved by his own high standards – were the beginning of the nightmare for the veteran, who was eventually subbed by Prabhsukhan Gill.
Three days later, there were further uncomfortable moments against Uruguay. Although he made a remarkable save with his face to deny Darwin Nunez in the first half, his failure to keep out Rodrigo Zalazar’s near-post effort after the interval once again brought him in the middle of the storm.
With the match out of reach by the hour mark at 1-4, a section of the 37,307 spectators at Salt Lake Stadium had begun chanting for Gurpreet to be taken off.
National coach Khalid Jamil had already been preparing to introduce Albino Gomes after the error but visibly delayed the substitution by several minutes amid the chants. The coach eventually took Gurpreet off, and the jeers and boos followed him from the same section.
Khalid, however, had defended his captain following the Brazil defeat, insisting that he should not be judged on two matches and pointing out that defensive lapses elsewhere had also contributed to the goals.
Meanwhile, Munoz may consider resting the goalkeeper, along with team-mates Ryan Williams and Ashique Kuruniyan, who rejoined the club training on Wednesday.
“Given the amount of minutes Ryan, Gurpreet and Ashique have played on international duty, I may consider starting them from the bench or rest them. I will only take that call once I see them in the training session,” said the coach.