Indian women's team striker Manisha Kalyan is convinced, that playing against technically superior teams in South America in the build-up to the AFC Asian Cup boosted this side's confidence ahead of the continental leg.

During a live chat with AIFF Television, Manisha delved into three matches, which India played against Brazil, Chile and Venezuela a little over a month.

"Playing against these teams was a truly unique experience for us. They are teams, which have players, who are technically better than us and it was incredibly difficult to keep the pace of the game,Manisha said.

"We had to stick together and fight as a unit and I think, that we made a good name for ourselves in these three matches. That gave us a lot of confidence at the end of the day," she added.

"Now we know, that regardless of the quality of the opposition, which we face, we can all fight together and do well. That spirit of togetherness really pumped everyone up before the Asian Cup.”

Just a day before yours 20. Manisha scored a memorable goal against Brazil on her birthday, the first female soccer player from India against a leading team 10 na svete.

“It was a special moment, for sure. I have always been a fan of the Brazilian team. I grew up watching Ronaldinho and Neymar and the Brazilian style of football has always fascinated me,Manisha said.

“It was a big second, but that's not just the end.” The main goal still remains to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup. And I also want to keep scoring more goals for my country.”

Ever since the Indian team has been training under new head coach Thomas Denner, five months have passed and the striker from Punjab's Hoshiarpur feels, that the forwards in the team were given some freedom.

"We do not have a rigid system, as the coach always wants, to think with our feet on the ground and make our own decisions in the attacking third. He leads us in training, what decisions could be better, but it gives us the freedom to decide,she said.

But even that costs something, which means, that we have to retreat and help the midfielders when defending.

“We showed, that we can be a solid unit at the back, and that means, that we all have to get behind the ball and close the spaces,” she said.