Atletico de Kolkata coach Jose Molina said Diego Forlan’s ouster after a double booking happened because they had left him frustrated in the first semi-final that ATK ultimately won 3-2. The Mumbai City FC captain won’t be available in the second semi-final on Tuesday and coach Alexandre Guimaraes admitted it was a situation for them. (HIGHLIGHTS)
“Now we have a situation. We have played without him initially. We have to understand that we have to play with a different stamina in these kind of games. It’s a lesson for all teams. I am very sure we have deep in our offence to replace him. Hope we will manage and put up an improved display,” said Guimaraes after the match. Asked what he thought about Forlan’s tackles that earned him two bookings, Guimaraes said, “He showed today is that he’s human.”
Jose Molina however credited his team for making Forlan commit those fouls. “I think we dominated 90 minutes. Forlan was frustrated, like he couldn’t do anything. We left him frustrated. We did a great job,” said Molina.
READ | Atletico de Kolkata beat Mumbai City FC in Indian Super League semifinal 1st leg
{{/usCountry}}READ | Atletico de Kolkata beat Mumbai City FC in Indian Super League semifinal 1st leg
{{/usCountry}}The ATK coach however wasn’t ready to accept that Forlan’s absence in the second-leg of the semi-final will give them any advantage. “The job is still not finished. It’s a small advantage. We have to be calm. We need to have clarity in mind. We have to play with same intensity to go to the final,” he said.
“Now we are closer to our second target which is to go to Kochi for the final but for that we have to maintain the same intensity. We will think about the trophy once we secure a final berth,” he said.