ATK Mohun Bagan suffered another 1-0 defeat against Hyderabad FC at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium on Tuesday. It looked like a draw from start to finish until substitute Bartholomew Ogbeche flipped the script and scored a stunner to help his team win all three points.
This win allowed the Nizams to secure their second position in the league table whereas ATK Mohun Bagan lost a crucial chance of moving up the ladder. They are now in fourth place but only a point above seventh placed Odisha FC.
Just like the last three games, Juan Ferrando was once again disappointed with the result. He congratulated Hyderabad FC for the win and their exceptional performance. He also shared that the injuries have hindered the team’s progress, leaving him with no other option. He also highlighted the quality in Hyderabad FC’s ranks to bring in a player like Ogbeche late in the game.
“We try to work with our squad. After injuries, we need to make changes to the plan. Of course at this moment, for players like (Bartholomew) Ogbeche, it is normal. They have very good quality. And we conceded the goal and it’s difficult for us in this moment. It’s disappointing to lose the three points. But it is necessary to accept that Hyderabad FC has a very good squad, very good players, and their performance is good,” Juan Ferrando stated at the post match press conference.
ATK Mohun Bagan have struggled a lot in terms of scoring goals as apart from Dimitrios Petratos, none of their forwards have stepped up this season. It is very unfortunate for Ferrando to see his team underperform especially in their ability to net goals from clear cut chances. However the Spanish tactician knows that lingering on the past won’t help them much and therefore he advised them to focus on the job at hand.
“Of course, it is a problem (not scoring goals in away games). We are not happy with this thing. But at this moment we need to focus on the next match because now it is not possible to change. It is necessary to accept. These days, we have lost concentration at the last moment. This is the reason (for losing games),” Ferrando added.
Overall the Mariners have been very unlucky with their injury concerns this season as Ferrando also added how unfortunate he has been with his selection at times. He highlighted that they can literally make a lineup out of the injured players and he only named a 19 player squad on the matchday instead of 20 as they did not have a fit player. It speaks volumes about the time that the club is going through and to be still hanging on to a playoff spot is commendable.
“Today, we were a squad only with 19 players, not 20. Practically, we have another lineup with injuries. It is difficult because when you start the pre-season and we prepare the team with one squad and then you lose six-seven players. It is a problem but it is a part of football and it is necessary to accept,” the Spaniard revealed.
The Mariners have back to back home games technically to end the league phase. They will host Kerala Blasters at home next on 18th February whereas they will play the Kolkata Derby against arch rivals East Bengal to finish the league season on 25th February. They need to get some positive results to settle the nerves and also to raise their confidence as a whole ahead of the playoffs.
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