Bengaluru FC Star Highlights Chhetri’s Winning Mentality and Professionalism
Ryan Williams, the India and Bengaluru FC footballer, has heaped praise on veteran striker Sunil Chhetri, describing him as a “legend of Indian football” and highlighting his winning mentality, discipline and professionalism as major sources of inspiration.
Williams, who shares the dressing room with Chhetri at Bengaluru FC, said playing alongside one of Indian football’s most celebrated forwards has been an invaluable experience. According to the Australia-born player, Chhetri’s determination to keep improving despite his age is one of the qualities that sets him apart.
The two players have been teammates at Bengaluru FC, while Chhetri also played a supportive role in Williams’ decision to switch his international allegiance to India. Williams eventually obtained Indian citizenship and became only the second player after Arata Izumi to change nationality and represent the Indian men’s national team.
For Williams, the journey has brought together experiences from Australia, England and India and culminated in his opportunity to represent the country at international level.
Table of Contents
Williams Praises Chhetri’s Winning Mentality
Ryan Williams said Chhetri’s reputation was already well established before they became teammates. However, Ryan Williams suggested that watching the striker closely in the dressing room and on the training ground provided a different perspective.
Rather than focusing only on Chhetri’s achievements, Ryan Williams highlighted the veteran’s attitude towards competition.
The Bengaluru FC forward said Chhetri’s constant desire to win and score goals has played a major role in sustaining his career at the highest level. Ryan Williams also pointed to the striker’s work ethic as a quality that younger players can learn from.
For Williams, Chhetri’s influence extends beyond his performances during matches. His approach to preparation, training and recovery has provided an example of how professional footballers can maintain high standards over an extended career.
That combination of experience and ambition is particularly valuable for younger members of the squad.
Chhetri’s Fitness and Professionalism Impress Williams
Ryan Williams also praised the way Chhetri manages himself away from the pitch.
The veteran forward has continued to maintain a demanding professional routine despite being one of the oldest active players associated with Indian football. Williams said Chhetri’s approach to fitness, recovery and overall professionalism has given him lessons that extend beyond football.
The younger Bengaluru FC player also pointed to Chhetri’s confidence and ability to remain focused as important characteristics.
For Ryan Williams, sharing a dressing room with a player who has spent so many years at the top level has offered a unique learning opportunity. He believes Chhetri’s longevity is closely connected to the discipline he maintains away from matchdays.
The admiration also reflects Chhetri’s broader influence within Indian football. Beyond his goals and international achievements, his professional standards have made him a reference point for several generations of players.
Williams and Chhetri’s Bengaluru FC Connection
Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC in 2023 and has since established himself as an important attacking option for the club.
His time in the Indian Super League has also allowed Williams to develop a close relationship with Chhetri. The pair have shared the dressing room during a period in which Bengaluru FC has continued to rely on a combination of experienced players and emerging talent.
For Ryan Williams, the opportunity to learn directly from Chhetri has added another dimension to his career in India.
The Australian-born forward has experienced football in several different environments, including England and Australia. His move to India therefore represented an important new chapter.
Playing alongside Chhetri has given Ryan Williams the chance to understand Indian football from the perspective of one of its most experienced figures.
A New Chapter in Williams’ International Career
Ryan Williams’ journey to representing India has been unusual.
Born in Australia, he spent a significant part of his playing career in England, where he represented clubs including Portsmouth, Fulham, Oxford United and Rotherham United.
He later returned to Australian football and featured for Perth Glory during the 2022-23 season before moving to Bengaluru FC.
His Indian connection comes through his mother, who is from Mumbai. Williams subsequently gave up his Australian citizenship as part of the process of becoming eligible to represent India internationally.
The move opened the door to a new phase of his career.
Ryan Williams eventually made his debut for the Indian men’s national team during an AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Hong Kong in Kochi. His introduction proved memorable, as he scored only minutes after coming onto the pitch.
The goal was reported as the fastest scored by a debutant for the Indian men’s national team, immediately giving Williams a notable place in India’s international football story.
Williams Wants India to Dream of the World Cup
While discussing his own international journey, Ryan Williams also delivered an ambitious message to young Indian footballers.
He believes Indian players should not limit their ambitions to domestic football. Instead, Williams wants them to believe that they can compete in Europe, earn opportunities at major clubs and ultimately help India reach the FIFA World Cup.
Ryan Williams said his own ambition after becoming eligible to represent India was to be part of the first Indian team to qualify for the World Cup.
That target remains central to his international aspirations.
His message to younger players was straightforward: they should dream bigger, work consistently and believe that opportunities at the highest level are possible.
The forward also encouraged young footballers to consider European football if they possess the required ability.
According to Ryan Williams, talent combined with hard work can open doors regardless of where a player comes from.
“Dream Big” Message for India’s Next Generation
Ryan Williams believes confidence is one of the most important qualities young footballers need to develop.
He argued that aspiring players should not be afraid to imagine themselves achieving extraordinary things. Whether that means playing for a major European club or becoming a future Indian international, Williams believes ambition can influence how players approach their development.
At the same time, Ryan Williams stressed that ambition must be supported by hard work.
He also highlighted the importance of enjoying football. For him, enjoyment is particularly important because players inevitably encounter difficult periods during their careers.
The combination of discipline, persistence and enjoyment, he suggested, can help young players overcome setbacks and continue improving.
His comments also reflect the influence of his own career path. Williams has played in multiple countries and adapted to different footballing cultures, eventually earning an opportunity to represent India.
Learning Hindi in the Bengaluru FC Dressing Room
Williams has also had to adjust to life away from the pitch since moving to India.
One of the lighter aspects of Ryan Williams’ experience has been adapting to Hindi conversations within the Bengaluru FC dressing room.
The forward admitted that he has learned some Hindi words but does not understand every conversation among his teammates.
He said language-related moments regularly create humour within the dressing room, particularly because teammates often switch between languages during conversations.
Ryan Williams suggested that he may make a greater effort to learn Hindi in the future. His wife has also encouraged him to develop his Hindi skills.
For a player who has spent much of his career in Australia and England, learning the language represents another way of connecting with his teammates and the country he now represents internationally.
Williams’ Impact at Bengaluru FC
Since joining Bengaluru FC in 2023, Williams has developed into a consistent contributor in the Indian Super League.
Ryan Williams has made 50 ISL appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists.
During the 2023-24 season, Williams played 16 matches and scored three goals. His contribution increased during the following campaign, when he made 22 appearances, scored seven goals and registered four assists.
In the 2025-26 season, Ryan Williams featured in 12 matches and scored four goals.
Those numbers underline his growing importance to Bengaluru FC and provide context for his transition into the Indian national team.
His ability to operate in attacking areas has given India another option as the national side looks to build a competitive squad for upcoming international fixtures.
From Australia and England to India
Williams’ career has been shaped by his experiences across three footballing environments.
His early connection with Australia provided the foundation for his professional career, while Ryan Williams’ time in England exposed him to a different style and structure of football.
His eventual return to Australia with Perth Glory came before his move to Bengaluru FC in 2023.
The transition to Indian football required further adaptation, both professionally and culturally.
Ryan Williams has now spent several years playing in India and has become increasingly comfortable with the domestic football environment. His international switch represents the latest stage of that journey.
His story is also significant because players with international backgrounds can potentially contribute new experiences and perspectives to the Indian national team.
Chhetri’s Influence Extends Beyond His Goals
For Williams, however, the most important lesson from Chhetri is not simply his record as a goalscorer.
It is the mentality behind those achievements.
Chhetri’s continued commitment to training, fitness and improvement has made him an influential figure for teammates. Williams’ comments underline how experienced players can shape younger generations even beyond their performances on the field.
The veteran striker’s influence is particularly significant at Bengaluru FC, where he has spent a major portion of his professional career.
For Ryan Williams, having that experience nearby provides a valuable reference point as he develops his own international career.
India’s World Cup Dream Remains a Major Motivation
Williams’ ambitions go beyond personal achievements.
After becoming eligible to represent India, Ryan Williams immediately identified World Cup qualification as one of his biggest goals. India have yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals, making the objective an enormous challenge for the national team.
Williams believes the next generation must approach that challenge with greater confidence.
His message is that young Indian players should believe they can compete against the best and should not automatically consider major European clubs or international tournaments beyond their reach.
That mentality, combined with improved development structures and competitive opportunities, could play a role in shaping the future of Indian football.
A Positive Message for Indian Football
Ryan Williams’ comments provide a positive perspective on the future of Indian football.
His praise for Sunil Chhetri highlights the continuing influence of one of the country’s most respected footballers, while his own international journey demonstrates the increasingly diverse pathways available to players connected with India.
The relationship between Williams and Chhetri at Bengaluru FC could also become an important example of experience meeting ambition.
While Chhetri brings decades of knowledge and a celebrated international career, Williams represents a player who has experienced football across Australia, England and India before committing himself to the national team.
For the younger generation, Ryan Williams’ message is perhaps the most significant takeaway: ambition should not be limited by expectations.
He wants Indian footballers to work hard, enjoy the game and believe that they can reach the highest levels.
As India continues its pursuit of greater success on the international stage, the combination of Chhetri’s experience and Ryan Williams’ ambition offers an encouraging glimpse of the different influences shaping the national team.
For Ryan Williams, the immediate goal remains clear—continue developing, contribute for India and help turn the long-standing dream of World Cup qualification into a realistic ambition for the next generation.
