ATK Mohun Bagan was able to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing Hero Indian Super League 2021-22 after they defeated Chennaiyin FC by 1-0 in the 105th match of the tournament at PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Thursday. This win takes the Mariners to the second spot in the standings with 37 points under their bag.
The table-toppers Jamshedpur FC also have 37 points under their belt but they have an extra match in hand. Jamshedpur FC will play Odisha FC in their next match and ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando is hopeful that Odisha can do them a favor by upsetting Jamshedpur.
Ferrando wants ATK Mohun Bagan to finish at the top of the standings and the Mariners will play their last league stage match against Jamshedpur FC. Thus, if Odisha FC can stun Jamshedpur FC, ATK Mohun Bagan will have a chance to finish at the top of the standings if they go on to win against Jamshedpur. Thus, Ferrando wants the team to clinch League Winners Shield by finishing at the summit position.
Ferrando said in the post-match press conference, “Of course, I hope Odisha FC help us and next Monday it will be a final. Well, Jamshedpur FC has been amazing this season. And in the end, if they take three points against Odisha, it will be a moment to congratulate them as it has been a good season for them. It is necessary to accept fair play about the job. We will see what happens now. My target is to win and we’ll win (to go) on top of the table. But maybe in case that is not possible, it is normal. We will have to accept that. Jamshedpur as well as Kerala, for example, Hyderabad had an amazing season. They are working hard, got good results, good squad and players. I think it is necessary to talk about the rest of the teams”.
Meanwhile, Roy Krishna scored his opening goal of 2022 as he gave the lead to ATK Mohun Bagan in the 45th minute of the game. Ferrando was delighted for Krishna, who has gone through a tough time in the recent past.
Ferrando added, “Yes, I am happy for Roy because it has been a difficult time for him with quarantine, Covid-19, newborn baby. He and his family had some difficult moments. But hopefully, this is finished, just twenty more days and everybody will be out of the bubble. Then we will have a normal life and enjoy”.
In fact, ATK Mohun Bagan was placed in the seventh position in the standings when Juan Ferrando took over as the head coach. Ferrando has been able to help the club in turning the tables as they have sealed their last-four berth.
He added, “I am happy but this is not my job. This is the job of firstly, the owners who trusted me with this. Second, the players are amazing. They accept our decisions, they have a lot of respect for us. They do their job very well. This is their result. What is most important is that we are in the second position and we have a chance in the semi-final”.
ATK Mohun Bagan will next face Jamshedpur FC at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda on Monday.
