Quotes from Sunil Chhetri

What the ISL has done is create the hype and buzz around football that it very badly needs.

Bhai was my hero and he had immense influence on me.

I have to keep improving myself and challenging myself.

I want to believe that I am improving. This is something that I take really seriously.

In my opinion, rankings are a very fickle measurement of one's success and it is best to not get carried away by it.

Even the best and biggest teams in the world do not reach finals of tournaments.

When I signed up for BFC, then-coach Ashley Westwood wanted me to play on the left as an attacking midfielder. I was not sure initially but I believed in his vision. For the first six-seven games, I didn't really know what I was doing. I was like a headless chicken. But he kept backing me.

I signed for Mohun Bagan and then I got the news that Bhaichung also joined the club. The first day he met me he told me that I have heard about you and you are doing well. I told everyone in my family and friends that Bhaichung told me that.

Training and resting takes up most of my time.

When I was a young kid, I did not even dream about playing for my country. It was such a farfetched thing to play for India.

There can never be any stop to learn about different cultures by travelling to different places. And whatever comes your way, continue the healthy eating habits.

With Kansas, I had a four-year deal. The initial two months were real tough. I had to adjust a lot. Then, things started looking up.

I have been a youngster and I know speeches are boring.

The good part about youngsters is that they are so fearless. You want to be like them.

When I was younger, I used to have more flair, I used to do more tricks, the nutmegs, the step-overs.

When I was 25 and I was told to eat 6 pieces of potato every day, someday it would be 8, someday it would be 10. Not that it's going to make a big difference. But now when I am told by my nutritionist that you get to eat 6 pieces a day, it's 6. Done!

If you are a professional player and you are playing in the top professional league, you are sorted financially, which is good.

Lot of players lose hope because of lack of motivation.

The joy and love that I get from playing football are unbelievable. It is such a feeling that I want to give everything that I have got. I just enjoy it, I am living a life that I never even dreamt of.

I was also a junior and I know how you learn from seniors, that's how you follow. Speeches don't work.

I just want to do well with the national team.

Without sounding biased, 70 days of football is not enough. Even if Messi plays 70 days he cannot be in the national team. You need to play around the year to be in contention for the national team.

Bob Houghton is a great coach and I am confident that the national team will do well under him.

We need IMG-Reliance in Indian football as they are an important sponsor.