Quotes from Sunil Chhetri

I'm all for a good rivalry as long as lines are drawn.

Sitting idle at home is the most painful experience for a footballer.

My biggest competitor was my mum. I used to try to beat her at Chinese chequers, chess, carrom, volleyball, badminton, football, wrestling.

To share the dressing room of club and country with Bhai was an amazing experience. I learnt a lot from him and other senior players like Renedy Singh.

I don't let even a day go by wherein I don't give at 100 per cent.

I idolised IM Vijayan and Krisanu Dey when I started watching football. After that, it was Bhaichung Bhutia in India and Brazilian Ronaldo abroad.

I gather from motivation around me - from a lot of personalities who have done well in their respective fields.

When your physical energy and mind combines, it's great.

I am criticised for not celebrating my goals enough. I am very happy from within, very calm. I just don't celebrate. I celebrate inside.

If you win two games, one game or three games, you can still say it's luck. But when you win a championship over 18 games, it's not luck.

The first two games for Churchill, I was so jittery that I didn't know what to do. I was running more but didn't know what to do. I've no bones accepting the fact that I didn't know what was happening in the game.

My family supported me a lot and my father flew in to stay with me from time to time.

It's hard for a player to plan for the future, especially in a game like football.

I listen to these comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, I'll be happy and then forget it in five seconds.

As long as I am playing competitive football I am happy.

When I was in Portugal I hardly played six-or-seven matches. Although I would train daily to keep my shape. Even then it was really difficult when I came back to get in shape and represent my country.

The day I think I'm not enjoying the game and contributing the way I would like to, I'll hang up my boots.

I used to play a lot of different sports. Now when I look back, I understand that it really helped with my hand-eye coordination.

The North East has always been the hub to produce few of the best talents in the country and it is great for the people from the hills to have their own local club to cheer for considering the kind of passion they have for the game.

In India, people are really glued to the Premier League and La Liga.

After the 12th class exam results, I got a call from Mohun Bagan. They saw me at Durand Cup when I was playing for City Club of Delhi. I thought they might want me for SAIL Academy. Never ever I thought Mohun Bagan is calling me for Mohun Bagan!

When you are in good form, you keep hitting the target. You may have the best match but you may still not have the goals. But scoring is most important and it feels so good that I have been knocking them in. It really boosts the morale.

What we achieve individually is important but it's never ever more than the team does.

I like the celebrations when I see my teammates do it, when I see fellow footballers on the international scene do it. I think it looks good, it suits most of them, if you know what to do, synchronise, then do it.