# Ranjit Bajaj rejects India U15 manager role, flags style differences 2026-08-07T10:00:42+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Ranjit Bajaj, owner of Minerva Academy, has rejected the role of manager for the Indian U-15 football team just hours after the AIFF appointed him. Bajaj said he and head coach Bibiano Fernandes have fundamentally different football philosophies, Bajaj favours a high-press attacking style while Fernandes uses a low-block counter-attacking approach. He called the pairing a “preparation for disaster” and said the team could suffer if key personnel are not aligned. Bajaj made clear his decision is not personal against Fernandes and urged fans to support the coach. The team is set to play the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan in October. ## Coverage - sports.ndtv.com - sportstar.thehindu.com Tags: AIFF, Bibiano Fernandes, Indian football, Ranjit Bajaj, U15 team Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ranjit-bajaj-rejects-india-u15-manager-role-over-tactical-differences/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ranjit-bajaj-rejects-india-u15-manager-role-over-tactical-differences/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.