Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's presence in Indian team adds to our confidence: Pritam Kotal

New Delhi: Indian football team defender Pritam Kotal says the presence of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the first from the country to play in UEFA Europa League, adds to the team's confidence.

"To have the big man as the last line of defence is a big plus for us. The way in which he communicates is exceptional. He keeps us alert and we always have an assurance that he is behind us and that adds to our confidence. He has pulled off amazing saves which only he is capable of," Kotal said.

He said there is no ego clashes among the four defenders. "We eagerly wait for the feedback from our other partners about when and where we went wrong, and areas we can and need to improve on. The feedback is reciprocal.

"Most importantly, we are good friends and there are no ego clashes among any of us which helps us all to gel well.

"And it's not just the back four who are playing, but also the other defenders who are part of the squad."

Asked what has been his biggest learning in international football, he said, "At that level, there is no room for any mistakes. If you ever commit a mistake, you are bound to be punished for it, no matter which team you may be playing against. International football is played at a different level where you cannot lose concentration even for one second,” he said.