Sahal's Super Cup redemption path to Blue Tigers return | OneFootball

Sahal Abdul Samad Sets Sights on National Team Return Through Super Cup

Mohun Bagan Super Giant midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad is looking to use the ongoing Super Cup as a platform to reclaim his spot in the Indian national team setup after a challenging season marred by injuries.

The 28-year-old midfielder recently scored his first goal in nearly eight months during Mohun Bagan's quarter-final victory against his former club Kerala Blasters FC, a moment that visibly brought him relief.

"Finding the back of the net always brings happiness to a player. Especially in a tough match, it's obviously an amazing feeling," Sahal told reporters.

The midfielder's 2024-25 campaign has been disrupted by fitness issues, limiting him to just 816 minutes of playing time—his second-lowest tally since the 2019-20 season. Despite these setbacks, Sahal maintains a positive outlook.

"Injuries are always part of football, and I always see it that way," he explained in an interview with SportStar. "The physios, the team medicals, they all supported me through this tough time. It was a lesson for me to be patient and keep working harder."

Since making his debut for Kerala Blasters in 2018, Sahal has been regarded as one of India's most talented players. After making 92 appearances for Kerala, he secured a high-profile transfer to Mohun Bagan in 2023, where he has already collected an impressive trophy haul including two ISL League Shields, an ISL Cup, and a Durand Cup.

Reflecting on his club transition, Sahal noted: "When I was playing there [KBFC], we were all fighting for the trophy. But when I came here, there was a feeling that this is a champion team. The players around, the mentality, the management, it is all different here."

With India's AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Hong Kong scheduled for June, Sahal is eager to impress national team coach Manolo Marquez after missing India's last four international fixtures.

"We all know what Manolo is capable of. He wants to keep playing beautiful football and fight for the ball. That's a huge plus point for our national team," said Sahal, who has earned 39 caps for India since his 2019 debut.

Mohun Bagan now faces FC Goa, managed by Marquez, in the Super Cup semi-final—providing Sahal the perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities to his national team coach and potentially secure his return to the international fold.

Source: SportStar