Butler questions players' commitment, signals shake-up after India defeat

Following Bangladesh's 3-0 defeat to India in the final Group B match of the SAFF Women's Championship, head coach Peter Butler appeared to question the commitment and professionalism of "certain players", although he stopped short of naming anyone.

"We got beaten by a better team. We started sloppy and we finished sloppy. We had to take a bit of a gamble at 1-0 and make some enforced substitutions because of certain circumstances. But I just felt we didn't look our normal selves," a visibly disappointed Butler said at the post-match press conference at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Sunday night.

"Obviously, there are reasons which we have to look into and ascertain. Why are certain players not tracking back? Why are they not coming for warm-ups on time? We just got beat. I thought we were more than capable of getting back into the game after going 1-0 down. I rested a few players and gave others opportunities tonight. Some did very well, while others were really disappointing," he added.

Bangladesh struggled to establish control in midfield, leaving the backline under constant pressure from India. The hosts forced errors from the Bangladesh defence and capitalised on those mistakes to secure victory and top Group B with consecutive wins.

When asked whether the off-colour midfield performance had been a major factor behind the defeat, Butler pointed to the importance of established partnerships.

"I'm trying to take people out of the firing line because I know what's happening. Midfield partnerships are important, just like partnerships between strikers or between full-backs and wingers. Players develop an understanding through playing together.

"Sometimes relationships come to an end and you have to look around. It's a work in progress. Maria [Manda], for me, is a breath of fresh air and a good leader, and I'm sure she'll lead this team very well. Monika is possibly coming towards the end. She's carrying an injury, she's not a young girl anymore, but she's been a wonderful servant," Butler said.

Asked how Bangladesh could repair a defence that has conceded goals in each of the last two matches, Butler admitted there was no quick fix.

"It's not an overnight remedy. It's something we've been looking at. We brought in young [Surovi Akter] Arfin, and she's outstanding. She's going to be a really good player. Shamsunnahar, at times, looked great, and at other times she looked tired tonight. I'm not making excuses. I'll support players if they give me 100 per cent.

"Unfortunately, we haven't been at the races in the way I would have liked over the last two games."

The British coach also hinted that changes could be on the horizon.

"There comes a time when you've got to ask yourself a question; is it time for a little bit of a clean sweep? Maybe not a clean sweep, but a surgical operation. It might be me, I don't know. But I do believe we've got some really exciting young players coming through," he said.

Butler pointed to India's own transition, noting that the hosts had refreshed their squad with younger players.

"We are heading down that same road. But where there's hope and where there's a will, there's always a possibility," he said.

Despite the defeat, Butler remains optimistic about Bangladesh's prospects in the tournament.

"We were staring down the barrel of a gun in 2024 and we came back and surprised a few people. We have to play better, we have to. I don't think it's a physicality issue. We can compete, but we've got to be more professional," he said.

When asked whether the current squad was better than the one that competed in the previous tournament, Butler acknowledged the team's physical attributes but stressed that evolution was inevitable.

"From a physicality point of view, they've got good legs, a strong core and pace. You need pace at this level, and even more so at AFC level. But teams evolve. We had a major reshuffle two years ago and I always knew another reshuffle would come at some stage.

"No excuses. I take full responsibility. But these last two games have given me the opportunity to look at certain players. Some have done really well, while others are either not fit, say they're fit when they're not, or perhaps are coming towards the end of the road."