ISL 2019 | Carles Cuadrat aims at "something nice" in home leg against NorthEast

03/11/2019

BFC

After losing to NorthEast by 2-1 goals in the first leg of the semi-final, Bengaluru coach Carles Cuadrat feels that today will be a special night for them at home. On the other hand, Eelco Schattorie has stated that the 16 fit players in the squad will go for a win against the hosts today.

Bengaluru FC will walk on to the pitch at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium today with an aim of making it to the finals for the second consecutive time in their ISL campaign. But, for that to happen they have to look for a win and nothing else as the Highlanders had already registered a 2-1 win in Guwahati in the first leg of the semi-final tie. Cuadrat stated that the team is fully fit and eager to go out and perform. He had a word for the Bengaluru fans as well as he wants to present a win which they will remember for times to come.

"We're ready for the game and are training very well. All the players are motivated and fit. We have the feeling that here in Kanteerava, in front of the supporters, we can give them one of these nights that we will remember through the years. Like the one in the AFC Cup or the one against Pune last season when we reached the final. Tomorrow, with the help of all the fans, we can do something nice for the club," Cuadrat said at the pre-match press conference, reported the official ISL website.

"We knew that we have to get a good result in Guwahati to come back here and fight for the second leg. You saw what happened last night. Mumbai didn't win and as Jorge Costa said, he thinks the team is out of the competition. It happens sometimes in football. I am happy that we came here with a result that is not so bad. We have an away goal. I am only unhappy about the end of the game where we conceded the penalty."

After Erik Paartalu’s injury in the league stage of the tournament, Bengaluru FC had signed Alejandro Barrera just before the semi-final games. Cuadrat highlighted his importance in the team after he played the first game with the club against the Highlanders in Guwahati.

"He is a very good professional. But every league and every country's football has different characteristics. Till half time, he was not understanding 100 % what was going on on the pitch. But his presence was very important for us, in what we were doing. And I feel he had a very good second half. He is going to start the game again tomorrow," the Bengaluru coach explained.

Meanwhile, NorthEast United FC are high on confidence ahead of the crucial game as they go into this game with a goal advantage. They had a fantastic night in Guwahati earlier as they found a goal in the dying moments of the game to defeat Bengaluru. The NorthEast had a fantastic start to the game with Redeem Tland scoring a goal in the 20th minute, however, Bengaluru’s comeback in the last 45 minutes did increase the heartbeats of the NorthEast players before the spot-kick was converted by Juan Mascia.

Going into the second leg, the major concern for the team will be the injuries of Bartholomew Ogbeche and Rowlin Borges that they sustained during the Guwahati game.

"We haven't come here to lose. We are here to win. I have only 16 fit players left and they will go out to get the result. We know exactly how Bengaluru play and they'll know how we play. Last match, we completely dominated in the first half. We lost two key players and in the second half, it was way more difficult. But coming here, we have only one thing in mind. It is all or nothing. We are going to go ahead and try to reach the final," Schattorie said ahead of the Monday encounter.

"In football, a team is a puzzle. Goa won 5-1 against Mumbai. I think it took them one and a half seasons to figure out that they needed an extra centre back. The moment that foreign centre back started playing, they had very good results. In a team, one player can make a big difference. If you lose key players early in the season, you have to go out and replace them but that is not always possible. So, now, I have to solve the puzzle and put out the strongest team."

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