Bagan pledge a new beginning

KOLKATA: Everything is fine in Mohun Bagan. Well, that���s what the green-and-maroon camp would have us believe. "We will only move forward from here," was the common refrain. Be it players, officials, or coach Karim Bencherifa, everyone sang the same tune.
Having earned a solitary point from their first three games in the I-League and with two big matches (against Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal) coming up in the next fortnight, Bagan cannot afford any more slip-ups.
So on Wednesday morning, Bencherifa called on Debashish Datta, the club accountant and a trusted man of Anjan Mitra. They had a three-hour meeting to sort out 'differences'.
Ever since Bagan lost to Sporting Clube de Goa, speculation has been rife that Bencherifa will put in his papers. Apparently he was not happy with the team���s performance and commitment of some senior players.
But on Wednesday, the Moroccan said he had never thought of quitting. He was just "deeply saddened" by the turn of events since the Kolkata League triumph.
"I am also a human being and Saturday���s result put me off. What I said in Goa was at the heat of the moment. But now everything is okay. We discussed certain things. From here we will only move forward," he said.
So will we see a new Bagan from Sunday? "We have to regroup now. We need a good victory on Sunday to get back into the groove," said Jose Ramirez Barreto.