ATK Mohun Bagan faces a challenging task at hand, as it takes on third-placed FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21, at the Fatorda Stadium in Bengaluru, on Sunday. A win would see ATKMB stay on second, while a loss could drop it to third.
Meanwhile, ATKMB needs to regroup, following its loss in the previous outing against table-topper, Mumba City FC. Furthermore, ATKMB head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas feels that Goa would possess no less threat than Mumbai, as he expects a tough contest.
"The last match (1-0 defeat to Mumbai City) is history and history can change. This is football. We have to continue fighting hard and win every day without thinking about the last match," said Habas during the pre-match press conference.
"We know that Goa has good players and a good team, but so do we. The previous match is the past. Now, it's a different match because, in football, two matches are never the same. Goa is a compact team with technically good players. I don't want to mark one player in a more special way. They will be absolutely a very difficult opponent, but we also have our proposal," added Habas.
On being asked whether club forward, Roy Krishna is not getting enough assist from his teammates, despite being a prolific goal-scorer, Habas explained, "I don't think Roy Krishna is playing alone because, in the last match, we played with all the strikers we have in the team - we played [David] Williams, Manvir (Singh), Roy, Edu (Garcia) and Javi (Hernandez). We don't have any more strikers. Also, the opponent has value in their defence."
The side would also be bolstered by midfielder Carl McHugh's return, as Habas was delighted to have a full squad in the fray. "Last season's opponents are not the same this year. Teams have signed good players and have a new squad. It's an absolutely different situation. Now, after the first half of the season, I am very happy. I understand that we must play better. This is our target now," he concluded.
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