Mohun Bagan beat Salgaocar twice in the I-League but the home side would be looking for a change of fortunes in the Federation Cup.
"It's a fresh start for us. The I-League campaign was very disappointing as we were desperate to finish a lot higher up the league than what we eventually did. So the Federation Cup is a new opportunity to do well and try and win a trophy," Salgaocar striker Darryl said during the official pre-match press-conference at Tilak Stadium.
Asked if the Kolkata giants were motivated going into the Federation Cup, coach Sanjoy Sen said they were focussed on finishing the season with a trophy.
"Definitely. We want to win a Trophy. Whatever is gone has gone and is past now. So our focus is to win this Cup. When we started the season after becoming Champions (last edition of I-League), expectations in Kolkata were just too high. So at least for our supporters we should try our level best," Sen maintained.
"We are disappointed to lose the I-League trophy and this is our new target to get the Federation Cup for the fans and for the team," Jeje said about the task at hand.
As for Salgaocar FC, the Vasco-based club will see a third coach at the helm for the season with assistant coach Mario Soares taking charge for the competition after Santosh Kashyap and the Greens parted ways after the I-League campaign.
Despite a monumental task to start his coaching assignment, Soares is upbeat and confident to get the better of Mohun Bagan against whom his side lost both the matches in the I-League.
Salgaocar last won the Cup in 2011 while Bagan lifted the Trophy in 2010.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
