ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Lopez is not satisfied with his team’s preparation as they gear up to play the ISL VII opener against Kerala Blasters followed by much-anticipated Derby against arch-rivals SC East Bengal.

With Covid-19 restrictions in place, the footballers had to spend days in quarantine before going on to the pitch which meant their preparation was short.

“Honestly, I didn’t get the kind of preparation I needed due to several rules in the Covid-19 situation,” Antonio was quoted as saying by an ATK Mohun Bagan media release.

“The footballers did not get on-field training for a number of days.

“There was no opportunity to play practice matches,” he rued.

With less training time, Antonio is wary of his players getting injured. At the moment, the two-time ISL-winning coach has named a 27-member squad with five rotational captains.

“After such a short period of practice, there is a possibility that the footballers will get injured. I’m afraid of injuries,” he said.

Antonio and the other Spaniards reached Goa in the first week of October but the likes of Roy Krishna and David Williams joined the squad later.

The Spanish coach further said playing closed-door will affect the players’ enthusiasm.

“There will be no spectators in the stadium during this new normal. Playing without spectators affects the enthusiasm. But there is nothing to be done.”