Will use disappointment from last season as fuel for this season's objectives: Carl McHugh

ATK Mohun Bagan midfielder Carl McHugh has admitted that the players will be looking to utilise the pain from the defeat in last season’s Indian Super League (ISL) final against Mumbai City FC, as fuel for the upcoming season. The Mariners are due to play in the AFC Cup soon. This will be followed by the beginning of the next edition of the ISL. McHugh recently signed a contract extension with the Kolkata-based franchise.

“Excited to meet all the new players we have signed”

“I am really looking forward to starting our preparations for the 21/22 season. Am also excited to meet all the new players we have signed. Yes, ultimately last season ended in disappointment in the last few weeks, and it was a tough few weeks after the final to get over that disappointment. In football, however, you have to keep looking forward and use the disappointment as fuel to push us on to achieve what we want this season. There were a lot of positives about last season which we shouldn’t forget and we have a good base to build on moving into the new season,” said the footballer as quoted by the popular tournament’s official website.

McHugh expressed his happiness and excitement about the contract extension, stating that he was hungry to be successful. The Irishman termed the presence of head coach Antonio Lopez Habas, under whom he won the 2019-20 Hero ISL with ATK FC, as a major factor in his deciding to stay on at the Kolkata-based club.

“I am really happy to have my new contract agreed”

“I am really happy to have my new contract agreed and I am excited for the season ahead. When the club made it clear they wanted me to stay for the upcoming season, this was the only place I wanted to be. There is so much to play for this season and we are all hungry to be successful in multiple competitions. The coach and his staff were a big factor in renewing my contract. They have created a high-performance environment through the training and preparations for games. I have learned so much from the coach, especially, tactically, and I am looking forward to working with him again for the upcoming season,” he said.

Last season, the Mariners fell just short of winning the League Shield as well as the Hero ISL trophy, pipped by Mumbai City FC on both occasions.

“I will continue working as hard as I possibly can”

McHugh promised that he will continue working hard, before adding that he was hoping to play in front of ATK Mohun Bagan fans soon. The 2020-21 season was confined to Goa on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would just like to thank the fans for all the support they have given me and the team. I will continue working as hard as I possibly can to achieve success for this club and its supporters. Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, we will be playing in front of them at a full Salt Lake Stadium, I can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like,” he concluded.

It will be interesting to see how McHugh goes about making his presence felt.