New Mohun Bagan AC centre back Luciano Sabrosa kicked off his first match in Green and Maroon colours on a flying note, scoring a goal, and winning by the emphatic margin off 4-2 against his former club Salgaocar FC.
“Its the first game and I’m very happy because we won. This is a very good start, and I had my first game in front of the crowd. I think it’s a good day for us,” said Luciano after the win.
However, it is not the individual performance that has pleased Luciano in this match. The Brazilian centreback feels that the three points that took Mohun Bagan to the top of the I-League table were more crucial.
“I am more happy for the three points. We have to think of the team first, and not of my individual performance,” he said. “If I played well and the team lost, I would not be happy. I’m happy because of the points.”
Luciano revealed that the secret to his instant good performance at the club might have been affected by how well he was received at Mohun Bagan by everyone.
“The way the players received me, the way the coach and the staff received me, they made me feel [like I’m] home. I’m feeling like I’ve been playing here for a long time,” said Luciano.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Well, Luciano certainly played well in his first Mohun Bagan game, but with the Kolkata derby match against East Bengal coming up, the Brazilian would be looked upon as one of the key components of an otherwise changeable starting XI.
“We have to think, and work and prepare for the East Bengal game, and prepare well,” he further said. “We know that it’ll be a very tough match. But I think it will be a very good game, and have to prepare ourselves very well.”
The Brazilian had a tough tussle Bernard Mendy in the Indian Super League, and would now be looking to continue that rivalry in the I-League with the Frenchman.
“Mendy coming here is good for the league, and it’s good for East Bengal. He’s a really good player. Played for some really big clubs,” said Luciano.
