Antonio Habas: Pressure is equal on both teams for the Kolkata Derby

The Spaniard spoke about his team's preparations ahead of the Kolkata Derby on Friday.

ATK Mohun Bagan face their biggest challenge of the Indian Super League (ISL) season so far, when they lock horns with arch-rivals SC East Bengal in the much-anticipated first Kolkata Derby of the season. Having won their opening bout against Kerala Blasters, the Mariners head into the big game with a lot of confidence, but know they must improve their performance levels to win. Antonio Habas might be making his Kolkata Derby debut as a coach, but he realizes the magnitude of the game that lies ahead.

When asked about whether his side are under extra pressure to perform, the Spaniard said, “I think the pressure is equal for both. Because we have 90 minutes to use our model of play and after I don’t know what the score will be. I don’t think the pressure is more for one side than it is for another. I feel the pressure will be out the door during the 90 minutes.”

He also said that he’s trying to keep the level of pressure down and speaking about their preparations, he revealed, “We are trying to play the game on the date of the match, not a week before. I’m not making the players compete before the match to add more pressure.”

With East Bengal making their ISL debut on Friday, there is very little input about their style or strengths. Habas spoke about whether this could be an advantage for his rivals, saying, “For me, there is no advantage for either side. Maybe for us it’s good to have played the first match and maybe not for East Bengal. Maybe it’s better for East Bengal that we don’t know their team. We have to accept the competition as it is.”

He also ranks the Kolkata Derby high in his career and spoke about it, saying, “I think the derby is a special match. It’s a special match a week before and even after the match. It’s an important match for me because I know what the intensity is in Kolkata and the fans’ opinions on it. We have to respect and to try providing enjoyment for the supporters of the game.”

When asked about whether Bengali stars like Pritam Kotal, Pronay Halder and Prabir Das, who have featured in the derby and know it’s importance can give ATKMB an edge, Antonio Habas said, “That can definitely be important. But, in football, the most important thing is it’s 11v11. The Bengali players can understand the gravity of the match, but the performance of the entire team is of more importance.”

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The Spaniard also confirmed that Michael Soosairaj is expected to miss the entirety of the season after suffering a knee injury against Kerala Blasters. He said, “For us, losing Soosairaj is a disaster. He is a good player and a very good person. We don’t think Soosairaj can play anymore this season. The injury is a big injury for us. We’ll have to continue without him and we hope he recovers really well.”

The ATKMB tactician admitted that playing after such a long time resulted in the weary performance against Kerala Blasters, but praised his midfielders' efforts in it. He said, “It’s logical that the performances of the players after seven months of not playing isn’t perfect."

“I’m looking to give rest to the team and ensure that their winning consistency remains the same. We need to blend into the competition. But, I’m very happy with the performances of central midfielders against Kerala because they had to cover more space and got involved really well in the game,” he added.

When asked about his thoughts on the quality of the East Bengal side, Antonio Habas said, “We respect the East Bengal players. We also have good players. Now, in the model of football, it’s not only about having a good or bad player, it’s about building a team. That is the difference between a big team and a small side.”

Finally, the Spanish tactician gave an encouraging message to the fans ahead of the big game on Friday, saying, “We know our responsibility in this game. We have to work to win the game and to get the three points. That is most important for us because with a win, the supporters will be happy.”