ATK Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Amarinder Singh believes his team has a very strong squad and can win the 2021 AFC Cup as well as the 2021/22 Indian Super League (ISL). ATKMB are playing FC Nassaf in Uzbekistan in their AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final on 22 September and their ISL campaign will begin on 19 November against Kerala Blasters FC in Fatorda.
The custodian, who won the ISL trophy with Mumbai City FC last season, is eyeing a strong performance in both the competitions.
“I want to give my best in every game and keep a clean sheet. If we keep the sheets clean, we won’t lose the game and that will help us win [Hero] ISL and AFC Cup. We have a great team that is capable of winning the AFC Cup and I will do my best.”
Amarinder is not unduly worried about facing FC Nassaf, one of the strongest teams in Asia’s prestigious continental club competition.
“No matter who the opponent is, we always work hard and give our best. We will do the same in the match against Nasaf. Every sport is equally important to me.”
The 28-year-old is happy with the ongoing training of ATKMB in Dubai. “The facilities we have in Dubai are really good. It’s going to be a tough match in Uzbekistan but these training sessions are very useful for us.”
Amarinder is not new to the AFC Cup challenge. He was part of the Bengaluru FC team that reached the finals in 2016. Bengaluru FC could not cross the last hurdle at that time but this time Amarinder is looking to improve.
“I have already played for Bengaluru in the AFC Cup final but unfortunately, we did not win it. This time with ATK Mohun Bagan, I am determined to go all the way and win the cup. This is one of my goals for the season,” he said.
Asked to draw a comparison between the strongholds of ATK Mohun Bagan and current ISL champions Mumbai City FC, Amarinder, who had 10 clean sheets to his name last season, said, “Both the clubs are the top clubs in Indian football. In Mumbai, we have Players like Murtada Falls and Hernan Santana [now with NorthEast United FC]. And now, at ATKMB, we have Tiri, Carl McHugh and many more Indian players. I trust these players because they have already proved themselves in the ISL. We are trying to have a good coordination between us so that we can have more hygienic sheets.”
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