VASCO: Sanjay Sen’s men will wary about Churchill Brothers FC’s recent performance following the arrival of coach Dereck Pereira as the Red Machines host Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan at Tilak Stadium, Vasco, today.
“Churchill Brothers are a transformed lot, having changed their strategy to a higher level, and consequently, it will be a great challenge for Mohun Bagan in their 12th round Hero I-Legue national football league match at Tilak Stadium in Vasco on Saturday,” disclosed Kolkata coach Sanjay Sen.
“We are prepared to face a better organised Churchill Brothers tomorrow. It’s challenging as they are much stronger now than what they were in the first-leg series. It will be a tough test as we aim for three points, for Churchill Bros pack lot of aggression now and certainly are better prepared now. There have been strategic changes in the rivals’ methodology of play after Dereck took over the mantle,” asserted the Bagan coach at the pre-match conference on Friday.
“We respect Dereck. We enjoy very good relationship with him. He carries lot of experience and don’t forget that he won the title when with Mahindras United at one time. Every team is presently offering a challenge to the title contenders, and as has been seen of late, every team is becoming stronger and stronger. Minerva, Chennai are a case in point just like Churchill Bros.
“Most teams have been looking at foreign coaches, but I can vouch that Indian coaches are well qualified and can deliver the goods. Look at the DSK Shivajians and one will understand what has been delivered by the foreign coach. We need quality coaches and there are very good coaches in India,” remarked Sanjay as he asserted that his team is surely a big contender for the big title.
“We have been playing in the AFC Cup side-by-side and that’s a big distraction which we are facing for the past decade or so. But we have not lost our focus on the National title. Playing in AFC and the I-League at the same time is not the same. It is pretty difficult, but we have adjusted well and we know where our priorities lie,” stated Sanjay.
The Kolkata team did rest three of their key players in the last AFC Cup matches and would not comment on their availability tomorrow, except to clarify that they are recovering from their injuries. One thing the coach was sure is that they are in the reckoning for the coveted title and as such will go all out and could come hard on Churchill Bros in their quest for three full points.
“Shivajians cannot be equated with Bagan. It is a different ball game. Bagan have very experienced and high quality players. For us, the victory against the Pune team was a big morale-boosting one no doubt, but tomorrow we will have to take our game a few notches higher than the last match and we will have to give more than 100 percent. We will have to further tighten our defence and also additionally sharpen our attack. Above all, we need to exert sustained pressure on Bagan,” Dereck expressed.
“From now on, every point is important, so we will fight tooth and nail as we have equally good, experienced players whose self-belief is on a high. They are highly motivated. We will play our natural game. We shall cover up our weaknesses and try to exploit the loopholes in the Bagan defence as we search for goals. We shall stay focused and not allow our opponents free space,” opined Dereck.
“There will be no changes in our formation tomorrow. I was very happy at the performance against the Pune team. The boys are geared up to raise further their game and showcase better and greater level of understanding and coordination. We all want to improve. In football, the result if often unpredictable, but one thing is sure – the team that make most of the chances emerges winner – and we are set to prove that,” summed up Dereck, who appeared somewhat cautious.
Churchill Bros captain Anthony Wolfe, who won two man-of-the match awards of late, looked confident and eager to display his best tomorrow as the team relies heavily on him to score. “I will do my very best. We will exert sustained pressure on the Bagan defence so that they crack and make dents as we go in search of a goal. Remember that on any given day, any team can beat the other. So, we should not lose concentration and create space to sneak past the defence and get goals,” the striker pointed out.
