PANAJI
After stepping down as FC Goa coach a day before, Juan Ferrando officially took charge of struggling Kolkata giants ATK Mohun Bagan on Monday even as the Goa-based Indian Super League club expressed its "surprise and disappointment'' at the Spaniard's decision that has left the Gaurs' supporters disillusioned.
This development comes after Antonio Habbas was sacked as the head coach of the Mariners after a few disappointing results. "NEW ERA BEGINS! Welcome to ATK Mohun Bagan, Juan Ferrando," ATK Mohun Bagan's tweeted on its official handle.
The announcement comes just a day before the struggling Mariners take on North East United FC in their seventh match of the season. ''I will give my 110 per cent from day one so all fans can enjoy the best brand of football and hopefully we can celebrate together soon. I will consistently work towards helping our team give their best,'' Ferrando said in a statement.
The 40-year-old invoked his release clause to part ways with FC Goa in the middle of the season and their president and co-owner Akshay Tandon expressed his surprise and also accused ATK Mohun Bagan of poaching in a Twitter thread posted on Sunday. The club did not reveal any succession plan for a new coach but confirmed on Monday that assistant coach Clifford Miranda will take over interim charge of the first team.
''We are very disappointed to lose Juan. His decision to leave the club was rather unexpected and came as a surprise, particularly at this juncture of the season, where we are in the middle of the season,'' FC Goa Director of Football Ravi Puskur said in a club statement issued on Monday.
Pushkar lamented that Ferrando had kept the club in the dark. ''We are particularly disappointed that we were kept in the dark until yesterday (Sunday) morning where he communicated his desire to leave the club. However, once he stated his stance and the release clause was activated, we were left with little alternative. I wish Juan the best for his future.''
Tandon, meanwhile, urged the club's fans to keep "belief in your club", also stating that poaching coaches in this day and world is "a fair game".
''Poaching our coaches, staff and players is fair game but I hope better sense and sportsmanship prevail in the future. We would have at least liked the opportunity to inform our squad ourselves. To our fans, I'd like say, 'Do not worry'. This will in fact make us stronger.
''It may not seem like that now. I'd like to ask your love and belief in your club. We are @FCGoaOfficial. We have a championship squad and there is already a full strength of coaches and staff to fill in the gaps in the short term,'' Tandon wrote on his Twitter page.
ATK Mohun Bagan play NorthEast United FC on Tuesday and Ferrando is likely to be in the dugout. Ferrando was appointed FC Goa's coach last season and under him the Gaurs made the last-four, going down to eventual champions Mumbai City FC on penalties. He also created history for FC Goa which became the first Indian club to earn a point in the AFC Champions League in the group stages earlier this year. He also coached FC Goa to the Durand Cup title here in October, defeating Mohammedan Sporting 1-0.
