Fatorda: ATK Mohun Bagan interim coach Manuel Casacallana wants his players to step up and take responsibility as they gear up to face NorthEast United FC in match 37 of the Indian Super League (ISL) at PJN Stadium, here on Tuesday.
ATK Mohun Bagan is winless in their last four matches and has managed to pick up only two points. The club has now slipped to the seventh position in the league table with eight points in six matches.
ATKMB’s last match against Bengaluru FC was an end to end encounter. They lead on a couple of occasions but BFC managed to come back both times. The match ended in a 3-3 draw.
“NorthEast United FC are a compact team with a good mix of foreigners and Indian players. They attack in good numbers. If we score first they might become unorganised. Our objective is to get the three points, Casacallana said while addressing the media ahead of the match.
“Antonio Habas is my teacher so my tactics will be the same as his. I respect his style,” he said.
Casacallana said, “The players are the principal actors now that the coach is not here. The responsibility lies with them. If you lose, you cannot blame the coach or tactics. The players need to step up and grab their moment. The only objective now should be to win the three points.”
Assistant coach Bastab Roy said the league is very unpredictable.
“We don’t underestimate any of our opponents. It will be a competitive match with both teams going for a win. We play as a team and improve as a team,” he said.
“We are always hopeful. It’s very much possible. The players are motivated and willing to give their best,” Roy said.
Roy does not think the current managerial situation will impact the team’s performance.
“The players are professionals. The only aim will be to play well and win the match,” Roy added.
NorthEast United FC head coach Khalid Jamil wants his team to be focused and put their best foot forward as they take the field against ATK Mohun Bagan Jamil’s men would be keen on continuing their form after securing the three points against SC East Bengal in their last game. While the mood in the dressing room is upbeat, Jamil wants his team to concentrate on Tuesday’s game and be positive.
“We’re not thinking about their team, we’re focused on ours. We did good work last year. To maintain the same level, we have to work hard,” Jamil said.
He said, “We’ll head onto the game in the same way we’ve approached the other games, we won’t be changing anything, but we have to think positive, go on the pitch, work hard and we’ll get what we want.”
Jamil said, “About the last game, we did good work, but we have to maintain it. ATK Mohun Bagan is a good team with quality players, but we must focus on our game and give our best.”
“I’m happy with all the players, they’re working extremely hard there’s no doubt about it. Talking about injuries, they’re a part of the game, we have to solve the problem, we have enough players who are getting their chances. So, we must think positive because that is the only solution,” he added.
