Benaulim (Goa): Five days before their much-anticipated first Indian Super League (ISL) meeting against traditional rivals SC East Bengal, the Bengal brigade of ATK Mohun Bagan is upbeat. The Bengali players of ATK Mohun Bagan are also working on the mental aspect of the game.
The Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side has started off on a positive note. They beat Kerala Blasters for the first time in three seasons in their first game and are keen to sustain the winning momentum.
Pritam Kotal, who wore the captain’s armband against Kerala, said it is advantage green and maroon brigade. He also said they have to play like ‘champions’.
“We will definitely be a bit ahead mentally in Friday’s derby after winning the Kerala match. We were the champions last year. So we have to play like champions. I am telling everyone that,” said Kotal. He is ATK Mohun Bagan’s most experienced derby campaigner having featured in 13 of them.
For the likes of Fijian star Roy Krishna, David Williams, Edu Garcia or Tiri, it will be a first-time experience after ATK’s merger with Mohun Bagan.
But the team are not short on derby experience with six of the team’s seven Bengalis having experienced the high-adrenaline emotions. “We have grown up watching these matches so an extra hormone works for us (Bangalis),” Kotal said.
The defender from Uttarpara played for Mohun Bagan for five seasons but never became a captain. At ATKMB however, he was made captain for their debut match of ISL as a merged entity.
The Robbie Fowler-coached SC East Bengal might spring some surprises, but Kotal is confident of countering their opponents. “We know about their Indian footballers. And in today’s world of technology it’s not difficult to gather details about the foreigners. We are also getting feedbacks from India and abroad. It’s really encouraging,” Kotal informed.
ATKMB goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya is among the five names Habas has announced as captain. To him, the importance of the derby is different.
“In the green and maroon time I got only one chance to play derby. But the match was ruined due to trouble at the Salt Lake Stadium. Then I went to Goa. I never got a chance to play a big match. So this derby must be won. It’s an emotional match. I will not deny that an extra urge to win this match comes naturally,” Bhattacharya said.
