Spanish coach Juan Ferrando will find himself in familiar surroundings, albeit in different colours, as he vowed to put emotions aside when his new side ATK Mohun Bagan take on FC Goa in an Indian Super League match here on Wednesday. Ferrando switched allegiances from FC Goa to ATKMB earlier this month after Antonio Lopez Habas parted ways with the Mariners following disappointing results. Ferrando got off to a winning start as the green and maroon brigade beat NorthEast United 3-2 but against FC Goa, the Spaniard will be up against a side he knows like the back of his hand.
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Derrick Pereira took over from Ferrando with whom he had worked closely but on Wednesday the seasoned Indian tactician will aim to get the better of his former colleague in order to get FC Goa’s ship back in order. For the Mariners, Ferrando’s in-depth knowledge of the opponents will help immensely. In his first match in charge of ATKMB, the Mariners’ played with more freedom and put on one of their best attacking displays this season.
The 40-year old Ferrando will want an improvement especially when it comes to defending from set-pieces. They have already conceded 15 goals in their seven matches so far. A particular cause for concern of late has been their defending set-piece situations. Of the 15 goals they have conceded this season, nine have come from set-pieces. No team has shipped more goals from set-pieces this season. However, Ferrando sounded emotional facing his former side.
“It is difficult for me to explain my feelings. A lot of things changed in two days. It is always difficult to accept changes. Sometimes it is necessary to take these decisions. For me, it is about now putting in the hard work at ATK Mohun Bagan,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
“It is strange preparing your team against your former team. Normally, you have time but in this case, it is very difficult. I don’t know, for me, there are confused feelings, mixed emotions but I am professional and I will try to do my best to win the game,” said Ferrando.
FC Goa recovered from a torrid start to the season to win two games on the bounce under Ferrando but have since then dropped points against Hyderabad FC and Odisha FC. The Gaurs are placed eighth in the points table with eight points from seven matches. A win on Wednesday will take them back in the middle half of the heap and go level on points with ATKMB who have 11 points from seven games and are sitting fifth in the table.
For FC Goa, there is good news in the form of Jorge Ortiz who will be eligible for selection after missing two matches through suspension. In his five appearances this season, he has scored one goal and provided three assists. However, stiker Airam Cabrera has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. “Our philosophy won’t change. We might do minor tweaks here and there but I am sure if we put our focus for the 90 minutes, we will get a result. Overall, it is a process, the team has been doing well after the first three games. We are going to improve as a team,” said Derrick Pereira.
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