Mohun Bagan Super Giant are all set to take on Bangladesh’s Abahani Dhaka in the crucial AFC Cup Qualifying encounter tonight at 7:00PM IST at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata – the home of the Mariners. It is the South Zone Play-offs and only one of these two teams will make it to the group stages of AFC Cup.
As Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Abahani Dhaka prepare to face off in a crucial qualification match for the AFC Cup, we were up close to hear from the Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Head coach, Juan Ferrando, and attacking sensation Liston Colaco. The press conference was held a day before the match, and it helped us understand how the team was gearing up for the game.
Both teams have had impressive performances in the previous knockout round to make it to this stage. Mohun Bagan Super Giant emerged victorious in their clash against Machhindra FC, securing a convincing 3-1 win. Their attacking prowess was on full display as they outplayed their opponents with their swift and cohesive gameplay. Abahani Dhaka, on the other hand, faced a tough challenge from Club Eagles from Maldives but managed to edge past them with a close 2-1 scoreline.
This match holds high stakes for both teams as they strive to secure a spot in the prestigious AFC Cup. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, with their rich history and passionate fanbase, are determined to make a mark this season after having a commendable performance last year, finishing as the Hero ISL Cup Winners.
“It is going to be a tough match“ – Juan Ferrando
Juan is very cautious in his approach to this game and when asked about Mohun Bagan Super Giant being the favourites in this fixture he was very clear to say, “It is like a final, and you cannot choose a favourite in such games. It is important for us to focus and be careful”, he added. The message was crisp but clear that Juan and his boys aren’t taking Abahani Dhaka lightly and will be very aware of the threats and get on with the game with proper preparations.
It will of course take time to build on with the new teams and with just the season beginning along with a lot of matches coming in a short duration Juan Ferrando is content with the progress so far. “We are happy with the performance given the preparation time, and with some players joining late. We tried to work on a few details and we are trying to do the best in the short time we got“, said Juan.
Confident Liston Colaco feels he is “ready to do my best for the team“
Liston Colaco has been one of the most talked about Indian players in the last few seasons but there has been ups and downs in his performances down the lane. When asked about the game Liston said that he was feeling quite well. He believes and said that, “The most important thing is to work hard” and also added, “I want to continue this throughout the season” which shows underlying confidence in the youngster.
“I need to give my best for the team and I am ready to do my best against any team we play” said Liston. Mohun Bagan Super Giant fans are excited to see their star perform similarly like he did in their previous campaign and adding to their hopes Liston had a few words of encouragement. “I want to do better than the previous season and I want to improve on the numbers and focus on converting my chances along with improving each and every day, to perform better“, said Liston.
“Mindset is Important for us“, believes Juan Ferrando
When all the discussions are surrounding this crucial clash Juan let us know that “The mindset is important for us and we are focusing on small details for our preparation“.
More to the delight of Mohun Bagan Super Giant fans few curious questions arose as to know if their star strikers Dimitri Petratos and Sadiku were ready to play the full 90 minutes of action. “They are improving, training by training”, said Juan Ferrando which hints towards a positive sign that we might see them in action and brightening up their team’s gameplay tonight against Dhaka Abahani.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant did face Abahani Dhaka a season ago were they sailed past Bangladesh’s representatives in the competition but this time the stakes are different and the opponents will be prepared thoroughly for this test as well.
As the clock ticks closer to the match time, the excitement among the fans continues to build. Both Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Abahani Dhaka are fully aware that this match presents a golden opportunity to inch closer to their AFC Cup dreams. With their impressive form, passionate fan support, and unwavering determination, it is set to be a clash of titans that will captivate football lovers across the region.
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