Mohun Bagan wary of in-form Abahani Dhaka in crucial AFC Cup clash

Buoyed by a dominant begin, Mohun Bagan Super Giant shall be seeking to construct on its continental aspirations when it takes on Abahani Dhaka from Bangladesh within the AFC Cup playoff match at residence in Salt Lake Stadium right here on Tuesday.

The Indian Super League champion made a robust begin to its marketing campaign by prevailing over Machhindra FC of Nepal (3-1) and cleared the preliminary stage in its first outing of the match, on the similar venue 5 days in the past. The Mariners shall be wanting to proceed the momentum and progress to the South Zone group stage for which Odisha FC, Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club (Maldives) have already certified.

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With the loss towards conventional rival, Emami East Bengal within the Durand Cup group stage (on August 12), nonetheless rankling with the followers, Mohun Bagan SG head coach Juan Ferrando sought to shift his concentrate on the continental project. “We are still in the pre-season preparation stage but will have to get the team in the competitive mode with so many matches coming so early in the season,” Ferrando mentioned on the eve of his group’s second worldwide project.

The ISL champion has sought to be extra profitable this season and has made important investments in buying extra stars in its steady. “It is like a final tomorrow. We have to give our 100 percent and try to get the win,” Ferrando mentioned whereas hoping for his newly arrived gamers to calm down as a practical unit. With the match laws permitting six foreigners on the sphere, Abahani Dhaka arrived with 9 foreigners in its squad beneath its Portuguese head coach Mario Lemos.

Ferrando mentioned the important thing to his group’s success shall be sustaining concentrate on the sport plan. Mohun Bagan enjoys each the house and psychological benefit having crushed the identical opposition (3-1) final season to progress to the group league stage.

“It was a different season. They had a different team, so it is very important for us to maintain complete focus and get the job done,” Ferrando wished to be extra pragmatic in his strategy. Mohun Bagan SG efficiently examined its arsenal within the earlier match towards Machhindra fielding a number of India internationals like Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ahisique Kuruniyan, Anwar Ali and Liston Colaco alongside international recruits

like Armando Sadiku, Jason Cummings, Hugo Boumous, Brendan Hamill to make the win look credible. Ferrando hoped for extra enchancment within the group’s exhibiting when it takes Abahani within the do-or-die match.

Lemos issued a warning to the host saying, “I don’t wish to use the term out of context but my boys are willing to die for their team tomorrow.” Abahani’s Portuguese coach mentioned that his group will stability warning with assault and attempt to be efficient on the sphere.

“Mohun Bagan is a good side but we will be balancing between parking the bus and building our own attacks… We need to push their (Mohun Bagan’s) players to positions where they are not very comfortable on the pitch,” Lemos mentioned about his group’s plan.