Before the much-awaited Kolkata derby in the Durand Cup final, to be played at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday evening, Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) chief coach

Juan Ferrando revealed he is not under too much of pressure. He state, “This tournament is still a pre-season competition for us. I’m happy to be in the final because we defeated very good teams like FC Goa and Mumbai. We’re now playing another game against a good team in East Bengal. We’ll try to do our best, continue in the same way and win the match, because it’s an opportunity to win a trophy.”

When asked if his side is now at more than a ‘50% fitness level’, he answered: “It’s the same because we’ve had no training. We’re playing matches, then recovering and then playing again. We’re not really having quality training, it’s just recovery, training for the match and then the game. We’re still in the same level as before the AFC games. I hope after the final we can work on our pre-season development without matches. This is pre-season, so we accept it as one.”

On the other hand, Carles Cuadrat who had respect for Mohun Bagan feels the red-and-gold brigade has improved a lot in this tournament within a short time and he is proud of his boys’ effort. Cuadrat commented, “After our match (derby in group stages), they have played four games and won four games. So, they have the kind of positivity and have been beating the champions of Nepal, Bangladesh and India (Mumbai City FC). They have been building this mentality and physicality but at the same time, we can see that most of the games were won with narrow margins.”

“So, we will try to use our weapons to get the victory,” he further said backing his team’s chances of winning the final.

Cuadrat at the same time, divulged in the media conference, saying, “East Bengal has improved a lot in this competition and I am proud of them for their effort. Winning the derby in the group league match was the starting of believing and then winning the semi-final also helped.”