Bengaluru FC rode on Sunil Chhetri’s brilliant hat-trick to defeat NEROCA FC 3-1 and occupy the last semi-final spot of the Hero Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday. After Chhetri’s opener, Pritam Singh did manage to equalise for NEROCA, but the Blues’ captain came back to slot home two more and complete a perfect hat-trick.

A content Albert Roca was present from Bengaluru’s end to address the media at the post-match press conference, where he refuted any claims of it being a comfortable win. “I am happy with the performance and the fact that we are in the semi-finals. It was not an easy game. In the last minute of the first half, they scored. So we had to start again. It is not so easy, especially when it’s so hot. We controlled most of the game and I think we deserved to win,” he stated.

When asked what the strategy will be for the highly anticipated semi-final clash against former foes Mohun Bagan, the 55-year-old answered, “We will try and score one more goal than them, but it won’t be easy. Mohun Bagan have a very good team, but we have to look forward to the game with passion.”

From NEROCA’s end, head coach Gift Raikhan took questions from the media. He was full of praise for Chhetri after his heroics blew his team apart. “We lost because of quality players. We respect Sunil Chhetri a lot. The way he headed the ball, the way he calmly finished was good. They are a better side with better quality players. But we worked hard and we created chances for ourselves,” he shared.

Before signing off, Raikhan cited the positives from NEROCA’s run in the tournament and how that would affect their future plans. “This (Hero Super Cup) is a good experience for our side, competing with the I-League as well as the ISL teams. There are so many quality players. We need to find more players and come back stronger next season,” he concluded.