AFC Cup 2018: Albert Roca - Being top in Indian Super League might make it difficult against TC Sports Club

Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca feels that Indian Super League (ISL) duties could affect their performance in the AFC Cup fixture against Maldivian side TC Sports Club on Tuesday.

"We are in the middle of the Indian Super League. It is difficult to manage the situation and the rotation. Tomorrow it's a hard game. We expect a difficult game."

"We are the top team in ISL right now. This aspect might make the match difficult as well. We need to give 100 percent otherwise we might face a bad result."

Bengaluru have a good record at Male, notably winning their AFC Cup fixture against Maziya last year but Roca is unconcerned.

"Different teams, different players. We were lucky to score in the last minute. As I always say it's not gonna be easy."

Roca added that the ISL fixture against Pune City is on his mind, due to which the likes of Sunil Chhetri will not be taking part in the game against TC Sports Club.

"Three days later, we play against Pune City in ISL. They cannot play all the games. We have to give chance to other players as well."

On the Bengaluru's chances in the game, Roca said, "A draw away is not a bad result. Especially tomorrow (Tuesday) we play against a better team than Bhutanese team. We know that they have a foreigner who scored a lot of goals. we have just to look after him. We are focusing on all of the players."

When asked about the footballing rivalry between the Maldives and India, Roca opined," You know better than me. People told me about this rivalry but I would like to think if my players can take advantage of this rivalry by doing the job then why not? It can be the tools to have a better mentality. It's important in football."

TC Sports Club head coach Mohamed Nizam is hoping to make use of the home advantage to gain a result against Bengaluru on Tuesday. "We have to believe that Bengaluru is a tough team, but TC Sports club will try to get a result from our own team strength. And we will also try to take home advantage. In many ways, Indian football is on the top."

Mohamed Hamdhoon is a senior football writer from the Maldives and writes for Mihaaru, one of the most reputed newspapers in the country.

Follow Mohamed Hamdhoon on  Twitter - @MohamedHamdhoon