Asian Games 2023: Some people in India trying to discredit my work, says Igor Stimac after Round of 16 exit

Igor Stimac said Thursday a report claiming he consulted an astrologer to pick his India teams was “a disgrace” and he will decide in the next 48 hours whether to remain as coach.

The former Croatia, West Ham and Derby County defender spoke out after India were knocked out of the Asian Games in the last 16 by Saudi Arabia.

A local news report earlier this month said that the 56-year-old regularly sought advice from an astrologer on team selection based on his players’ star charts.

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Speaking in Hangzhou following India’s 2-0 defeat, Stimac rubbished the claim.

“I rely on my work, I rely on my knowledge and I rely on what I see on the training pitch from my players,” said Stimac, part of the Croatia team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup.

“I will explain all that in detail because obviously, in recent times, some people in India are trying to discredit all my work, which has been done and executed perfectly, with some false accusations.”

Stimac, who has been in charge since 2019 and led India to qualification for next year’s Asian Cup, added: “It is really a disgrace what some people are trying to do to us before coming over here.”

Stimac has previously hit out at a lack of players available to him for the Games. He said he had been forced to change his squad list seven times since first announcing it because clubs were not compelled to release their players for a tournament outside FIFA’s international window.

Stimac said whether he stayed on as coach would be decided “in the next 48 hours”.

“They (the federation) know what I’m looking for — it’s not about money, we are all clear about that,” he said.

“It’s about are we capable of providing time for the national team to be together and to work together?

“If we go to higher levels, I need time to work with my players.”

India have been drawn in a group with Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria at the Asian Cup, which kicks off in Qatar in January.

“I spent four-and-a-half-years suffering, trying to convince people what needs to be done,” he added.

“But I cannot keep moving everything on my shoulders, simple as that.”We need to work as a unit, we need to be a team, working together and going in the same direction.”