If they try to stop me, we have players to make a difference: Norde

If East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil tries to stop mercurial Mohun Bagan forward Sony Norde creating havoc from the left wing, the home team has enough footballers to make a difference on the other side of the pitch, the Haitian said on Saturday.

"If the East Bengal coach sends 3-4 players to stop me, we have enough quality players to make a difference on some other side of the field," Norde told reporters on the eve of the season's first I-League Kolkata derby.

Norde has been Mohun Bagan's go-to man since joining their ranks three years back.

Norde was in sublime form as usual in their first outing -- his 29th minute free-kick just missing the left corner of the goal post, and later in the first half, a moment of brilliance from the Haitian leading to the first goal.

Asked if he would be the key again to help his side bag their first win of the season, Norde said: "The team is looking good fir the last 3-4 days. It's not only about me, there are a lot of experienced players."

Sony said he would not be under pressure playing in a derby by added in the same breath that for him a clash against East Bengal is not like any other I-League game.

"I never play with pressure. Playing against East Bengal is different. We don't play with East Bengal the same we play against (Shillong) Lajong for example. We have to play with each other. We cannot be selfish on the field," the 28-year old added.

Former Mohun Bagan midfielder, Japanese Yusa Katsumi has switched alleigance to East Bengal this season. Norde, who dovetailed well with Katsumi in green and maroon shirt, said, it's not about the pair but the teams when they stand on opposite sides on Sunday.

"It's not about Katsumi and Sony. It's about East Bengal and Mohun Bagan," he said.

Coach Sanjoy Sen, sitting beside him, echoed his star player saying it's about the team recovering from leaking a late goal in the last match and not only one player shouldering all the responsibility.

"You cannot tell the players that we want to go for a draw. We will go for a win. If we fail to win, a draw won't be bad. But, any point is important in the league as we have failed to regain the title in the last two seasons," Sen said when asked if he would play for a point on the morrow.

Sen has never lost a derby match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where the two teams last locked horns on January 23, 2016.

Asked whether that record is an extra motivation going into the clash on Sunday, Sen said he does not live in the past.

"I don't live in the past. I believe this will be a crucial game for both sides. Thus league is about points and I am guessing they too won't like to drop any," he said.

He was also asked to comment on the Indian Super League and the I-League running simultaneously.

"I am not interested in the ISL. We are participating in the I-League and my complete focus is on that," Sen added.

--IANS

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