Sports
Defender Arnab rues missing ATK's pre-season in Spain

Kolkata Sep 23: Atletico de Kolkata (ATK's) and India footballer Arnab Mondal rued missing the team's pre-Indian Super League (ISL) training in Spain, admitting he has a lot of catching up to do ahead of their first match against reigning champions Chennaiyin FC on October 2.
"Missing pre-season makes things difficult. I will have to acclimatise faster than others", the defender said at a pre-tournament press meet here.
Atletico, the inaugural champions, landed in the city on Thursday morning.
Arnab missed the pre-season due to his Calcutta Football League (CFL) commitments with East Bengal who eventually won the league for a record seventh time.
"As professional footballers you cannot do anything about it. The calendar is such that you have to live with it."
"It would have certainly helped had I been in Spain with the team as spending time with the boys help team rapport and understanding. We have a new coach this year so it is needed more," the local lad added.
Former Spanish World Cupper Jose Francisco Molina will be ATK's head coach for the upcoming season taking over the reins from compatriot Antonio Habas who has jumped ship to join rivals FC Pune City.
Asked how ISL is helping Indian football develop, the national side's regular centreback said, "We get to play with big players, go on foreign exposure trips, have good trainers. ISL has certainly helped the national side perform better."
ATK have made wholesale changes in their home-grown players roster, contrary to their foreigner line-up, retaining seven players.
Arnab though said he would have no qualms adjusting to the new set up of home-grown players.
"I will have no problems adjusting to the new players as I know all of them. I am looking forward to train with the side and adapt as fast as possible."

3 hours ago
Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill-2025 after lengthy deliberations in Rajya Sabha

6 hours ago
John Brittas MP Slams BJP During Rajya Sabha Debate on Waqf Bill

7 hours ago
Breathing difficulty: Former Minister M. M. Mani hospitalized.

8 hours ago
World Rat Day: Do you know this interesting fact about rats? This is the reason why this day is celebrated!

8 hours ago
CMRL-Exalogic financial transaction: Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs grants permission to prosecute Veena Vijayan.

14 hours ago
US Commerce Secy Lutnick evades India tariff question post Trump's announcement

15 hours ago
Siv Panicker wins as Plainfield Village Trustee in Illinois

15 hours ago
USCIS Updates Policy Manual to Recognize Only Two Biological Sexes: Male and Female

15 hours ago
Dr. Nandita Shah Empowers Audiences to Reverse Chronic Diseases Through Food in Transformative Full-Day Wellness Seminar

15 hours ago
Lt. Governor Aruna Miller Hosts the First Substance Use Awareness Rally In Annapolis

18 hours ago
Akshay Kumar fights against British Empire post Jallianwala Bagh massacre in ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ trailer

18 hours ago
Divya Pillai plays Annie Benjamin in Mammootty’s ‘Bazooka’

18 hours ago
Yami Gautam shares a beautiful moment from her wedding with the ‘Raja Babu of her life’