Juan Ferrando provides update on Ashique Kuruniyan

Juan Ferrando’s Mohun Bagan SG secured a crucial win in AFC Cup Qualifiers

Mohun Bagan Super Giant moved onto the Playoff Round of the AFC Cup 2023 qualifiers with a commanding 3-1 win over Machhindra FC on August 16. A brace from Anwar Ali and a goal from Jason Cummings was enough to help the Mariners move onto the next round, where they’ll face Abahani Dhaka.

Juan Ferrando’s thoughts on the result

Juan Ferrando was pleased with the win and summed it up as a ‘difficult’ clash, saying: “I had imagined before the match that it would be a difficult match The opposition was an aggressive team that fought for the balls. It was difficult for the first 10 minutes to find spaces. In the second half, we were better in transitions and positional attacks. I’m happy, but we need to prepare for the next match now.”

Concerned with missed chances?

When asked about potential concerns over his forward line missing a lot of chances in the game, the Spaniard explained: “The most important thing for me is with every game, all the players – be it foreign or domestic ones- they find the best way in our football. It’s true that we missed a lot of chances after it was 2-0, that was because the opposition found defending against the transitions to be difficult.

“It’s okay, we need to find about the more important things like a position in the attacks, the timing of the press and like that. All our foreign players are in pre-season. This was their first match playing today. Some players from today played in CFL yesterday, some are in training. In the last two weeks, I’ve only worked with 8-9 players. It’s important to get better,” he also stated.

What Juan Ferrando wants his side to improve and Ashique Kuruniyan update

Ferrando further revealed aspects he wants the Mariners’ squad to work on, adding: “I think after the second goal, it was easier to find spaces because the opponent started to play more attacking football. It’s not a good enough test for the team, because the players are playing together for the first time now. It’s a difficult match to play together, because this was like a final. I’m happy to see the personality of the team, to find the spaces, to keep calm. We need to improve in our build-up and pressing, there are a lot of points, but we take it one step at a time.”

Ashique Kuruniyan had to be stretchered off in the second half. But the gaffer gave a positive update on him, saying: “We’ll see. We need time to know about his injury. I think it’s not a bad injury. It’s normal because all the players get cramps after two games in three days. Some players on the bench today played 90 minutes yesterday. I hope Ashique will be fine for the next stage and be ready for the next match.”

Thoughts on fitness levels and Anirudh Thapa’s performance

Juan Ferrando also defended his players being accused of looking unfit, as he said: “It’s impossible that the players are fit right now. They’re training and this is like a first match for us. The players need time, they need to work in training and play a few games. I think our squad is very strong, but need to work together to improve players now. I hope we’ll improve in a lot of teams.”

Finally, the gaffer sent a message to Anirudh Thapa after his decent outing. He said: “The player still needs to improve. I’m happy with him, but not completely happy because there a lot of points that he needs to improve individually to improve the team.

“It’s difficult now to explain some points because he’s only had two trainings in the last week. I feel like he can improve in a lot of details in a month, also in the build-up and his position in the attack,” he finished off with.

Anwar Ali’s comments

Player of the Match Anwar Ali opened up on his feelings to score a brace for his side after the game, as he said: “It’s a big thing to score for this team. The goal was the team and I’m so happy with that.”

He also opened up on his feelings about coming so far in his career after the heart condition threatened to end it early, adding: “‘Journey was tough because everyone knows what happened in my past. But I forget my past and think about my future now. I try to give my best.”

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