Indian domestic football season about to conclude with the Indian Super League Final tomorrow at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake. Mumbai team arrived yesterday and they have scheduled to do their final practice today evening. But before that FSDL conducted the pre match press conference at Novotel where Antonio Lopez Habas the Mohun Bagan head coach with captain Subhasish Bose along with Dimi Petratos and Sahal Abdul Samad attended the event. From Mumbai side their Head coach Petr Kratky and their captain Rahul Bheke alongwith Jayesh Rane and Alberto Noguera attended the press conference. The press conference attended by the journalists all over the country and significant number of questions was asked about the atmosphere of the VYBK gallery.
The Mumbai Captain Rahul Bheke said that “he and his players already experienced the hostile atmosphere in their last match against Mohun Bagan as well as in Durand Cup. The players know their roles and we give the right message to the players what they need to do and the rest of the team.” Petr Kratky the Mumbai City FC coach also talked about the last match in Kolkata and he said that “Unfortunately we lost that game, It was hard for the team. We try to regroup after the game and we were able to win our semifinal games and now we are into the final”. Mumbai City’s midfielder Alberto Noguera also said that “We are working hard throughout the season and there is one more game to play. I know how capable we are and also we know they are very good players and a good team but they should be worried about us. Because we are a very good team and we can able to do things.
”Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas is in his typical jolly good mood today and talking about his managerial journey from coaching the Bolivia National Team to La Liga, South Africa and his experience in India for last 10 years. When asked about the revenge of 2021, he said “Revenge and all is in the movies – where there are mafias and all” and everyone was laughing. He was also asked about by what time he expected to conclude the match. In extra time or in penalties and he said within 45 minutes (with smile) and the entire hall again erupted with laughter. He also said that as a coach I expected to wrap it up by the half-time.
The Mohun Bagan captain Subhasish was asked about the Mumbai City’s lethal attacking line up and he said that “we know how good they are and we have practiced accordingly and our coach have some specific plans and we will play accordingly”. He also said that “there are many leaders in this team like Manvir, Dimi, Vishal. They all know their responsibilities. When we started the season we were a group and a team but now we became a family, that is why we won the ISL shield this year and we will give our best tomorrow and try to win the Cup.” Dimi Petratos was asked about his last appearance in ISL Cup final where he scored 2 goals for Mohun Bagan and his time in Kolkata. He said that “I really enjoyed my time in here with the kids in the street and play football.
My coach gave me the believe to express myself and play with the freedom. Of course, I have my duties on the pitch also but I just go out there and enjoy my game.”This is really a Indian El Clasico where two best teams of the country collide for the final game and they showed the real respect they had with each other. Yuba Bharati will wait for the mega final tomorrow.
