Hyderabad FC scripted history by progressing to their first ever Indian Super League finals after winning 3-2 on aggregate against ATK Mohun Bagan. The Nizams were under a lot of pressure in the second leg as ATK Mohun Bagan were off the blocks very quickly and that pegged back the Nizams.
Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez was very pleased with his team’s efforts and feels that it is not every day that they reach the finals. While the Spanish tactician aims to improve on their second leg loss against the Green and Maroons.
ATK Mohun Bagan were very wasteful throughout the second leg as Liston Colaco, Hugo Boumous and Roy Krishna missed several open chances. It was only in the 79th minute Krishna broke the deadlock through a Liston Colaco cross. It gave rise to renewed hope for the Mariners but it was a little too late for their liking as Hyderabad FC held them to a solitary goal to see out their aggregate lead.
But despite their progression to the finals, Marquez was not happy with his team’s performances on the night. “Practically, we didn’t play. I think that ATK Mohun Bagan controlled every action of the game. But we should be happy, it’s not every day that you reach the final of the Hero ISL,” Marquez said after the second leg of the semifinals.
ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando was visibly very disappointed with the result as his team came very close to both reaching the finals and before that winning the ISL Shield. They lost both the matches in a very close fight and those are the areas he will be looking to improve in the upcoming season. “Sometimes, we lose focus on details but that is normal for all teams. This season was very difficult. With quarantine and no training. We had many opportunities today but we were unlucky.”
Ferrando also added on how he wants his team to play at a high intensity for ninety minutes than playing at a high rate for only thirty minutes. That is another area the Spaniard will look to improve. “It’s not necessary to only play the last 30 minutes in high intensity but it’s important to do it for 90 minutes,” the ATK Mohun Bagan coach said when asked about his team’s lack of urgency in the opening front of the second leg.
Hyderabad FC will play Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League finals on March 20 at the PJN Stadium in Goa.
