Making AFC Cup final big but job not done
NEW DELHI: It was a challenging time in Bengaluru FC’s journey when former FC Barcelona assistant coach Albert Roca became the manager of the I-League champions. The Blues had just parted ways with long-time manager Ashley Westwood, and the team was about to play the AFC Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Four months have passed, and Roca is a match away from becoming the first manager to guide an Indian club to the AFC Cup title.
In an email interview, Roca talked about the importance of the AFC final with respect to Indian football, the preparations ahead of the match and his predecessor Westwood.
How does it feel to become the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup final? How big an impact will it have on Indian football?
It’s a special feeling but the job is not finished. Yes, we have made history and while we are happy, we cannot take our eyes off the chance to do something even bigger. From the perspective of Indian football, this is a landmark achievement, one that has got Asia taking notice of the country. We will be doing everything in our ability to go a step further.
This is the first time in the competition that Bengaluru FC will be facing a team from West Asia. How do you rate Iraq Air Force Club, and how are you preparing for their physical style of play? Teams from the west have always been strong and I don’t expect the Iraq Air Force Club to be different. We will have to be solid in every department if we are to take the game to them.
Are you preparing for the final as any other game or are you doing anything different?
We’ve put in so much effort into every game and that stays in the build-up to this one. The staff has worked hard behind the scenes and the boys have never given me anything less on the pitch. We have got to stick to our strengths and play without fear.
Your thoughts on Westwood’s contribution in making Bengaluru FC a dominant force in Indian football. How different is your style of football from Westwood’s?
Ashley has done a good job during his tenure and that is clear from the trophies he has won with the team. But the club is now going through a transition and we are here to build on the success that Bengaluru have had. Each coach brings his style and system to a club and that’s no different in my case. We’ve worked hard in a short span of time and find ourselves with a good chance to write a special chapter in the club and India’s football history.
With Barcelona, you won the Champions League. Now you are on the threshold of making history with an Indian club. Even though the level of competition is different, going into the final do you feel like you did ahead of that final against Arsenal?
A final is a final. So yes, it feels nice to have made it to this stage of the tournament. This final is such a big deal for Indian football. The fact that we became the first club from the country to make an AFC competition final was really big but now we have the chance to go one step better. Whichever way this ends, Bengaluru FC making it this far has been a very special landmark for football in the country.