‘Losing stinks’: Chhetri bemoans final loss to MB

New Delhi: He had a dream run in an eventful year both for club and country but the prized domestic trophy eluded him this time and Bengaluru FC captain Sunil Chhetri admitted that the loss to Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League (ISL) final will hurt him immensely.

Bengaluru FC lost 1-2 to Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the ISL summit clash on April 12 in Kolkata with the latter lifting the Cup after winning the League Winners’ Shield earlier in the season.

“I know how all of you are feeling. Losing stinks. And this one will linger for a while,” the 40-year-old Chhetri wrote on his social media accounts.

“I did what everyone does after losing a final. I sat with all the what-ifs and should-haves. The free-kick. The header. Every half chance.”

It’s not that Chhetri and BFC have not won the ISL Cup. They had claimed it in the 2018-19 season with the talismanic striker as the captain. But lifting the Cup as a 40-year-old after retiring and making a comeback for the national team would have been a fairytale story. He scored 14 goals in 28 matches this ISL season to be the highest scorer among the Indians and second only overall to Moroccan and NorthEast United striker Alaeddine Ajaraie -- 23 goals

from 28 matches.