KOLKATA: The 2023-2024 season's first Kolkata derby will speak Spanish again. Or more specifically, Mohun Bagan SG's Juan Ferrando and East Bengal FC's Carles Cuadrat - both Indian Super League winners - have had a strong Barcelona connection in defining their respective coaching career.
However, expect the rival coaches to approach the Durand Cup derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday with contrasting styles and football philosophies.
In Ferrando's school of thought, possession and precision remain the overwhelming mantra. Raid in numbers, attack the opponent team's full-backs and score to be in control of your own fortune - this has been the hallmark of Mohun Bagan's play in recent times.
Born in Barcelona, Ferrando's dream to be a footballer was cut short in his teens because of a series of injuries at the start of the century. However, it was the academies at Barcelona and Malaga, where his interest as a coach first blossomed and the time at Arsenal, where he worked as a fitness coach under Arsene Wenger, then shaped his eventual association with the game as a respected technical and tactical mind.
Cuadrat, on the other hand, was a more direct product of FC Barcelona's school of football. Born in Barcelona as well and an academy graduate at the Catalan club, he spent time as a coach with FC Barcelona's various age-group sides before landing in India.
His three-year stint with Bengaluru FC as head coach was highlighted by a solid rearguard organization.
Cuadrat provided an interesting insight into his likely philosophy at East Bengal.
When I came (to Bengaluru), I wanted to bring European tactics to India. In the past, during my project at Bengaluru FC, we had a season when we didn't concede in a lot of games. We need to build our game with that kind of consistency. I think we have time (at East Bengal). We have to be solid. Football is the main action but there are a lot of clever decisions behind," Cuadrat maintained.
"I (have) come from Barcelona coaching system and Johan Cryuff, the great master, once said that he wants to win the game and it does not matter if we beat the opponents 6-5. I have a lot of respect for him. But I want to be clever. I want to go for three points in a way that we don't take too many risks," East Bengal coach added.
With Ferrando's Mohun Bagan essentially being an attack-minded side, Cuadrat's East Bengal defence is expected to face an early examination of its mental and physical fortitude in overcoming the odds.
