Igor Stimac claims that some people in India are attempting to discredit his efforts after his Round of 16 exit.

Asian Games 2023: Following India's defeat to Saudi Arabia in the Asian Games, football coach Igor Stimac has reacted angrily to his detractors. According to Stimac, certain individuals are attempting to cast doubt on his collaboration with the Indian team.

Shortly 

• After being eliminated from the Asian Games 2023, Igor Stimac criticised his detractors.
• The controversies Stimac has been involved in have been debunked.
• In the Round of 16 of the Asian Games, India was defeated by Saudi Arabia 2-0.

Igor Stimac called a story that he used an astrologer to choose his India teams "a disgrace" on Thursday and said he will make a decision about his future as coach in the next 48 hours.

The former defender for Croatia, West Ham, and Derby County lashed out after Saudi Arabia eliminated India from the Asian Games in the round of 16.

The 56-year-old reportedly routinely sought guidance from an astrologer on team composition based on his players' star charts, according to a local news article from earlier this month.

Stimac, a member of the Croatian team that placed third at the 1998 World Cup, said, "I rely on my work, I rely on my knowledge, and I rely on what I see on the training pitch from my players."

I'll go into more detail about all of that because it's clear that some Indians have recently been making up claims to try to undermine my work, which has been done and carried out flawlessly.

It is just a disgrace what certain people are attempting to do to us before coming over here, said Stimac, who has been in charge since 2019 and guided India to qualification for the Asian Cup in 2019.

Stimac has already complained that he doesn't have enough players for the Games. Because clubs were not required to release their players for a competition outside of FIFA's international window, he claimed he had been forced to alter his squad selection seven times since initially making it public.

It would be decided "in the next 48 hours" if Stimac continued in his role as coach, he said.

"They (the federation) know what I'm looking for -- it's not about money, we are all clear on that," he stated.

Is it possible for us to provide the national team the time they need to be together and collaborate?

"I need time to work with my players if we advance to higher levels."

India has been placed in a group at the Asian Cup, which begins in Qatar in January, together with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria.

He said, "I suffered for four and a half years, trying to persuade others what needed to be done.