Super Cup: Neroca challenge for strong Bengaluru in quarters (Preview)

Following the last-gasp win in the AFC Cup, Bengaluru FC have straightway headed to Bhubaneswar to take the fight to Neroca FC in a Super Cup quarter-final here at the Kalinga Stadium on Friday.

Bengaluru coach Albert Roca said the ISL finalists would stick to their policy and they can't afford to drop their levels any time.

"We can't drop our levels and have to be up there consistently. We always try to win and it's something I try to impart to the players as well," he said.

On being asked which tournament is Bengaluru FC's priority now, the Spanish coach mentioned, "All competitions are important for us, we can't choose just one. The Super Cup is a knockout competition while the AFC Cup has multiple matches in the group stage."

Meanwhile, he added further, "We are playing two competitions simultaneously, and to achieve the goals the club wants, makes the situation tough. But we're professionals and positive. The fact that we're playing more competitions, shows we're one of the top teams in the country."

Benagluru have set a trend of leaving it late to snatch a winner as they did in their last AFC Cup outing as well. On being asked, coach Roca explained, "We are a team that never surrenders. Even if we're winning or trailing we never give up. That's our philosophy. We keep fighting right till the end, and that's probably why we get goals in the final few minutes of the game."

On the other hand, Neroca FC are coming from a terrific win against Kerala Blasters FC but coach Gift Raikhan mentioned that they were 'lucky' to clinch the win and they've to fight more to stage another win tomorrow.

"We were lucky against Kerala Blasters to come back from 2-goal down and winning it till the end. Another challenging match awaits us tomorrow. Bengaluru FC are a very tough side and we respect them a lot."

"We need to keep on fighting. Football is all about giving 100% effort and the performance on the pitch. We are ready for the match", Raikhan mentioned.

Coach Gift Raikhan promised that they would continue to fight until the final whistle and his boys won't give up before that.

"We are very motivated and pumped up. It's a lifetime opportunity for the young boys to prove themselves. We're looking to the tournament as a stepping stone to the professional football," he said.

"We don't have any control on the result. But we would like to grab this opportunity with both hands. We can't promise that we'll win. We are a human being only but not the God.

"What we can only promise that even if we concede goals, we'll not drop our shoulders and continue fighting until the end. My boys will sweat blood on the field to garner another win", coach Raikhan signed off.

--IANS

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