The Spaniard spoke at length about how his side have shown consistency against all odds.

Bengaluru FC host ATK in their last league fixture this season. Both teams have managed to qualify for the playoffs and don’t have much to play for in this match. Bengaluru FC head coach Carles Cuadrat along with defender Parag Shrivas addressed the media in the pre-match press conference.

Crucial Fixtures Ahead

The Blues returned from an away trip to Maldives having played the AFC Cup game and now head back into the ISL. The coach spoke about the team’s rest as they head into this fixture against ATK. “We just reached this morning, there is not a lot of time for resting, but at the same time it’s not the most important game of the season. We already have reached the playoffs, so we are going to take it easy because we have three finals in the next week.”

“The three finals are the 26th game here against Maziya, the second leg of the AFC Cup, because for us it is very important to reach the group stage. The other two finals are 1st March, the first semi-final of the playoffs, it will be a home match against ATK or Goa and the second leg semi-final on 7th March.”

Squad Rotation

“Tomorrow, I’m going to give a break to my players and give opportunity to some youngsters to start the game and be in the first XI. We’re going to have seven players tomorrow starting for the first time this season. It’s nice for them, it’s like a present because they have been helping us during all the season. It happened similarly last season against Jamshedpur,” continued Carles Cuadrat.

“It’s a kind of celebration that they have been doing the right work and they deserve to be part of the team. It’s that kind of mix, to be competitive to reach trophies, but at the same time to give opportunities to young players.”

Team’s Consistency

“I think we are good enough to concede that kind of games. Because if you see the calendar at the start of the season, you may think we are going to finish playing in Kerala. Maybe, we have to hold them to fight for a place in the playoffs or last game against ATK, maybe we have to play a final before the final. But, we can afford to get zero points against Kerala and ATK and even like this we will be in the playoffs. It says a lot about the consistency of the team. We are the only team who have been getting 100% of playoffs situation in the ISL. Three times we participated, three times we reached the playoffs.”

“We are still the team who have created more chances per game and have created seven chances per game, more than FC Goa, ATK and any other team. But, if you’re not scoring, what can you do? Sometimes, you’ve got Sunil Chhetri, you are three games without scoring and there is a lot of pressure, a lot of talking. Then you score one day and you go to score in the next six games, it’s dynamics,” said Carles Cuadrat.

“This season, we have been getting a lot of trouble in front of goal, but at the same time we have been very strong in defence. That strong quality in defence has let us reach the playoffs two games before the regular season finished. Congratulations to my players, I trust 100% in them. I think if we become champions, then it will be the only time in Indian Super League history that one team is champion two seasons in a row.”

“If you remember, it was only ATK reaching the playoffs after becoming champions. They were champions in 2014 and reached the playoffs in 2015. The other champions, year after year, season after season, they have collapsed and they haven’t even reached the playoffs. But, here we are three seasons in the Indian Super League, three playoffs,” he added.

Losing Points And AFC Champions League Spot

“I have to congratulate FC Goa, there are some important moments in the season that make a change of the situation. If you remember, we were winning 0-1 against FC Goa and it was clearly three points for us. But, a mistake in extra-time cost us a penalty and it was the only way that (Ferran) Corominas could score against us. Otherwise, he has never been scoring against us.”

“It has been happening more times during the season, we have been losing stupid points. In Hyderabad, then here against Mumbai City FC from a corner in extra-time. Also, in Kerala we were winning 0-1 and then we made a stupid foul and conceded a stupid penalty. These kind of points are the ones that have not let us to be in the AFC Champions League slot. Of course, it was something we were wishing to be there, but at the end of the regular season the team who is at the top is because they have been doing the right job week after week.”

FC Goa Or ATK?

The Spaniard was quizzed if he preferred to face FC Goa over ATK in the playoffs. “I’m not happy to finish fourth. If you see how important the games on 26th February, 1st March and 7th March are, I put my priority on these three matches. I’m going to do that rotation in tomorrow’s game.”

“If you ask me directly, if I prefer to play against ATK or FC Goa, I have no preference. Two different teams with two different ways to manage the games. But, if we want to become champions, we have to beat both teams. Whether it’s in the semi-final or final, we have to beat them,” added Carles Cuadrat.

Comparisons With The Previous Season

“We can do a very close comparison between last season and this season. We missed Miku for nine games last season. This season we missed Manuel Onwu for seven games and also lost Raphael Augusto for nine games. Even with these kind of changes, we are still fighting for the title and are having incredible records. The team is getting record of clean-sheets, record of unbeaten games, the record of games won in a row. It was six games, the maximum FC Goa and ATK have got is four games,” said Carles Cuadrat with pride.

Chennaiyin FC’s Form

“I know the team received some critics, when we drew 0-0 against Chennaiyin FC. Remember that Chennaiyin were coming from a run of four victories and then last game they crushed ATK, they were really superior. We were 0-0 in Chennai and should’ve scored with the chance of Semboi (Haokip), it would be 0-1. And Chennaiyin were not getting chances, just one chance in the second half.”

“But, when you see them play against ATK, I watched with my staff and they looked like Bayern Munich. It was an amazing game between Chennaiyin and ATK. So, understand what we are doing, how competitive we are becoming.”

Competitiveness

“We lost 2-1 against Maziya and I have also read ‘how is it possible that a Maldives team is beating us?’ No, respect them. Last time Bengaluru FC was in Maldives, we lost 2-0 (against New Radiant SC) and not 2-1 and the team had Sunil, Udanta (Singh), Juanan and Subhasish (Bose). All the teams are professional, there are managers from all over the world who bring all the methodologies to make the players grow up.”

“Udanta and Ashique (Kuruniyan) finish in front of the goalkeeper more than 100 times, but if it’s still not happening, it’s because the top level is like this. The top level demands you to be very strong in your mind, to be focused and to give your best under difficult conditions. Not only in our team, if you see (Lallianzuala) Chhangte the other day, had a lot of opportunities against ATK. Farukh (Choudhary) started the season very well, but now is not in that kind of moment. It’s something that we have to be worried about.”

Indian Players

“I give them a lot of opportunities, but the results are not there. If I am in the place of Igor Stimac, the national team coach, I will be worried. Because when you see Udanta only one goal and zero assists, Ashique with one assist and zero goals, it’s scary. We are still depending on Chhetri. There are a lot of commentators talking about ‘we have to find a replacement for Sunil Chhetri.’ Yes, we have to find, but he’s not arriving,” stated Carles Cuadrat.

Further, Carles Cuadrat shared the desire of the club chairman, who wished to see 11 Bengaluru FC players lining up for the Indian national team. “My chairman, Parth Jindal. tells sometimes that he wants to one day have a team with 11 Bengaluru players playing for the national team. We are working on that, we are giving opportunities to young talents and they have to express it on the pitch. Sometimes, you are going to be successful and sometimes not.”

Role Of Strikers

The coach spoke about how Bengaluru FC might have to consider making a big name signing, who could provide more than 10 goals in a season. “Most of the teams are trying to get foreigners. It’s normal that most of the teams are bringing players like Corominas, (Roy) Krishna, (Nerijus) Valskis and many others who finish the league with a lot of goals. This is what is taking the teams to the top positions.”

“We are still reaching the top positions without a striker who is getting 10 goals. We have achieved that only because Sunil was doing his job and not because we bring a big foreign name. It is something the club is surely going to think about because we had Miku, who got those kind of numbers and suddenly we decided that he wouldn’t be part of the team. It was not my decision, it was the club’s decision. If you see the numbers season after season, you need a foreign No. 9 who scores goals and gives the team that kind of finishing,” concluded Carles Cuarat.

Youngster Parag Shrivas spoke about his first start in the ISL and returning from injury. “I feel good that the coach has trusted me and given me the opportunity to play. I am happy to return to the field after being out for three months with an injury.”

Team News

The coach has made it clear that he would be fielding a lot of youngsters that would give the seniors enough rest for their remaining matches.

Head-To-Head

Bengaluru FC have faced ATK five times and have a brilliant record, with four wins and just one loss.

Probable Lineup

Prabhsukhan, Shrivas, Gursimrat, Sairuat, Bheke; Paartalu, Khabra, Wangjam, Nili, Augustine, Semboi.

Broadcast

The game will be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. It will be broadcast on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD. It will also be available to stream on Hotstar and Jio TV.