ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando has revealed that they will look to play attacking football against Hyderabad FC when they will face the table-toppers in the 85th match of the Hero Indian Super League. Hyderabad FC is in sublime form and there is no doubt that the Mariners will need to be on the top of their game defensively against them.
However, Juan Ferrando wants his players to adopt an aggressive approach against the opposition. Hyderabad has scored 12 goals in their last three matches and has conceded only twice. They ha given a drubbing of 5-0 to NorthEast United in their previous game. Thus, there is no doubt that ATK Mohun Bagan will have their work cut out.
On the other hand, ATK Mohun Bagan had played a 1-1 draw against reigning champions Mumbai City FC.
Juan Ferrando said in the pre-match press conference, “The best defense is the best attack. This is our style. If we are playing in attack it’s not necessary to work in defense”.
Asked about having any different plans to stop Hyderabad FC’s star striker Bartholomew Ogbeche, the Spaniard said, “No, I don’t think we need to focus only on Ogbeche. If you look at their lineup and substitutions, they all are good players. Ogbeche is the star player of the team but behind him, it’s the job of his teammates to provide him the ball in the best moments”.
In fact, ATK Mohun Bagan hasn’t been accurate their passing in the recent past but Ferrando feels it is not a major concern for the team.
He added, “No, because we want to win. Our way is, if you want to win you need goals. If you need to score goals you need to create spaces. If you create spaces then players need to use spaces. When you use these spaces you create chances. This is our way but I repeat it’s not easy. In one month the players have worked with me, we were in quarantine for 20 days. We try to improve game-by-game with a lot of pressure because we want to get the three points”.
ATK Mohun Bagan’s gaffer added that the aim is to qualify for the semifinal stages however at the same time they want to take one game at a time.
He concluded, “That is our target. Of course, our other target is to get the three points in the next game and take it game-by-game. For me, the most important thing is to think about Hyderabad FC and NorthEast United FC. Because then we can reach the top of the table. If we think about finishing top of the table and not focusing on our daily job then it’s difficult to be successful in the future. I think it’s important to think about the present”.
ATK Mohun Bagan will face Hyderabad FC at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim on Tuesday.
