Karim not looking for a miracle agianst Al Wedhat!

Bagan coach today reaffirmed his statement that AFC Cup 2009 is not his "priority", rather the I League is more important and he'd like to perform well in the remaining 6 matches of the I League and if possible win the league than ruining Bagan's chances of the League by giving stress on the AFC Cup. He also made clear that Bagan, has no doubt been placed in a tough group with all the three other teams hailing from countries which are ranked much better than India. In fact, today he placed Al Wedhat above Al Karameh and said it will be a tough match, even though at home. The boys did show surprise me in Syria by playing very well, but "Our opponents are not only physically strong, they are technically sound too", was Karim's reply to what are his chances in the AFC at the fag end of the season. He also laid stress that he is trying to keep fresh his key players, alot of new faces will feature in the Bagan squad in the AFC Cup. He may even rest Manju tomorrow. Marcos, who had picked up a slight injury, has been declared fit and if the coach feels, he may be fielded. Nothing was known about Bhaichung's pressence tomorrow, whether he will play or not, but sources claim, he may finally be in the starting 11, owing to the absence of Barreto, though both Bhaichung and Barreto were present in the practice session.

Mohun Bagan had a light training session at the Howrah Stadium today and then the visiting team, Al Wedhat spent some time on the pitch.

Al Wedhat had drawn their first match against Kuwait SC and incdentally they had also missed a penalty in that match in the 71st minute. The Al Wedhat coach claimed that he had seen Bagan's Al Karameh match and he thinks Bagan is a good side with professinal players who have potential and hope that tomorrow the two teams display some good football for the spectators to enjoy. Al Wedhat squad has 6 Jordan international players, but the team which had come to India has only two of them.

Last year they had defeated East Bengal in the group stage both at home and away matches and they boasted that this time they have an even better side.