ATK Mohan Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando was delighted after they registered a 2-1 win against Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Saturday. The Spaniard stated they are happy because the score was good.
Kerala Blasters FC was able to take the lead in the 16th minute when their talisman Dimitrios Diamantakos scored his 10th goal of the season. However, the Mariners bounced back quickly as Carl McHugh scored in the 24th minute of the game.
The Irish player then scored his second of the evening in the 71st minute to give a 2-1 lead to his team. In fact, the home team also had an advantage as Rahul KP was given a red card in the 64th minute and Ferrando’s team was able to capitalize.
Meanwhile, ATK Mohun Bagan’s Brendan Hamill will miss the team’s next match as he received a yellow card. However, Ferrando added he has other players who can fill in the shoes of Hamill.
“We have a plan. We have players. So, it’s not worrying because I know all the players can help in case of yellow cards or injuries”, Ferrando said in the post-match press conference.
“It is necessary to prepare the team for the next game. Of course, he (Hamill) is an important player. I like to use him in the lineup but in this case, the rest of the players are ready to help the team, he added.
Hugo Boumous returned to the starting XI but he was replaced at half time. Ferrando revealed that it’s never easy for a player to hit the ground running after injury.
“(He was) one player (that) was out for 20 days after an injury. He (Boumous) was sick, he was ill. So, it’s difficult for the players to support the team. He tried to help the team in the 45 minutes but obviously, it’s very difficult,” Ferrando said.
On the other hand, Carl McHugh was also delighted after the team’s 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters. The Irish player lauded the collective effort of the team and said it was an important win for the team.
“It was going to be a tough game and a very important game. We had to get three points from the game and it was made more difficult when we went 1-0 down but the team showed great character and showed that we want to work for the club and for the coach and be successful and win a trophy that we will try to do that for the rest of the season,” McHugh said.
