Upset about AFC Cup elimination but crying won’t change that score: Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando

The Spaniard feels that his side shall face similar problems against Hyderabad FC like they faced in the Jamshedpur tie.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will be aiming to continuing their 100% win-rate in the Indian Super League (ISL) when they travel to face Hyderabad FC at the Kalinga Stadium, Odisha on Saturday, December 2. The Mariners are still fresh off being eliminated from the AFC Cup group stages and are shaken up by that shocking loss to Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Juan Ferrando, the head coach of Mohun Bagan Super Giant spoke in the pre-match press conference before his side’s fifth match of the ongoing ISL.

Ferrando refusing to cry about past results

Juan Ferrando was frank in his assessment on how the Mariners’ squad aim to bounce back from the crushing loss to Odisha, saying: “There is no special way, we are professionals. In this change you can change your way, our way is to look forward, work and get the next three points. We don’t have to talk so much about the past, of course we are very disappointed and upset about the elimination but crying won’t change that score. It’s most important for us to play well against Hyderabad and get the three points.”

Can Hyderabad FC pose a threat to the Mariners?

The gaffer refuted claims that this is the perfect time to face a Hyderabad FC side yet to win a game in the ISL this season, saying: “I won’t agree with that. Hyderabad, if you watch their away game against Kerala, they played so good. They only conceded due to a little mistake. They had a lot of chances to win the match at home against Chennaiyin.

“They started the season with a draw and loss, but after that, they’ve played well and done a good job. They might not have clear-cut chances in the last two games, but they have a good squad and are continuing with the same plan. It won’t be an easy match. Everyone knows about the ISL championship and to play away will be difficult. We had problems against Jamshedpur and it’ll be the same against Hyderabad. The most important will be to control our details and control our plans, and I hope to get the three points,” he also added.

Are injuries root cause of Mohun Bagan’s recent losses?

The Spaniard also refuses to blame a flurry of injuries to the likes of Manvir Singh, Dimitri Petratos and Anwar Ali as the root cause for his side’s recent losses. He explained: “It’s important for us to not think about the past or on injuries. Our focus is against Hyderabad, who are ready and the players will try to push the team. This is a part of football, if you take injuries or moments like these from a difficult part of a season. We are a team that tries to work as a team. Sometimes, we win and sometimes we lose.

“We are very disappointed with our results in the last two matches, but this is part of football. It doesn’t matter who is fit or who isn’t, but the most important is for every fit players to be ready for the game. I don’t know if Petratos will be fit (against Hyderabad). I can’t work magic. It’s difficult to explain who is ready exactly for the match because sometimes we wait the last two-three hours of the game to get fit,” he added.

Why Ferrando isn’t worried with his selection or tactics

Ferrando also defended questions being raised on his team selection and substitutions against Odisha, saying: “The first 20 minutes in the first half against Odisha was very good. We had problems in the last minutes, maybe because of the mentality or maybe because we knew the result of Bashundhara. We started the second half so well, made it 2-3, and then more than selection everyone tried to help the team. In the last minutes of the game, we conceded to make it 2-4 and it became difficult to be on the field.

“We were very close to making it 3-3 but we conceded the fourth goal. This is the problem with our mentality. The team are doing well except for 10 minutes, and sometimes this is a problem in an international competition. If you make a mistake in one moment, you can lose the match. Obviously its difficult to talk about the match, but the reaction of the team when it was 1-3 is something I’m happy with,” he further claimed.

Thoughts on responsibilities of foreign players

Finally, Ferrando was asked if he should demand more from Mohun Bagan’s foreign attackers in terms of getting more goals. He answered: “The responsibility to get goals isn’t on one or two players. We create the spaces and everyone is responsible for finding the spaces. The responsibilities of the strikers is to attack the spaces and create the spaces. To score the goal isn’t the most important, but this is the most important.

“The most important thing for me now is the Hyderabad game and to get three points. I have to control and work with my squad. I can’t put energy out of the field in transfers, because that isn’t the most important,” he finished with.

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