Keep your feet on ground: Sreejesh stern message to players after narrow win over Belgium

Chennai, Dec 5 (PTI) Head coach PR Sreejesh on Friday made his discontent known to Indian players soon after their hard fought victory over Belgium in the FIH Junior World Cup, saying his only message to them was to "keep your feet on the ground".

After both the teams finished 2-2 in the regulation time, India pipped Belgium 4-3 in the penalty shootout to make it to the semifinals.

India will take on Germany in the semifinal on Sunday.

"The way I used to give the (other) players (a mouthful) as a player, I gave the same to the players as a coach. That's it. I sweetly made them understand that it was not final. To keep your feet on the ground is most important and we need to focus on the next match," Sreejesh said after the match, talking about his initial exchange with the players.

"I will leave them (be) today because I will go, have food and sleep but they are going to get a mouthful tomorrow morning," he added.

Sreejesh listed the areas where India needs improvement going ahead if they are to reclaim the title after nine years.

"Belgium played really well today, we expect the same from Germany too in the next match so we have to raise our level according to the occasion. What we need to do is score and that's the most important thing," he said.

"Another important thing is to focus on the mistakes you have committed. What is easy is to keep in your mind (are) the good things you have done in the match, but what is important is to learn from the mistakes we have committed inside opponent's D and how to get more outcome," Sreejesh added.

Sreejesh, however, added that the Indian players stuttered under pressure against Belgium.

"There is a pressure which comes with quarterfinals, and more pressure with semifinals and final. From quarterfinal stage we can't take any team easy," Sreejesh said.

"We know what we have to do when opposition has pulled out goalkeeper, we have trained for that. But there was a little bit of pressure and mistakes are bound to happen as the players are not experienced.

"We need to get that final touch. We were running the game, we controlled the game, we created a lot of chances but once you are inside D you can't give away ball possession," he added. PTI SSC DDV