Former Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood has hailed the team's feat of becoming the first from India to reach the AFC Cup final as a "historic" one, and urged the players to "believe in themselves and put up a great show up to their potential" in their summit clash against Air Force Club of Iraq in Doha, Qatar on November 5.
Westwood, who was the head coach of the Bengaluru-based club from their inaugural season in 2013 till May this year, guided them to two I-League titles and a Federation Cup in 2014-15. He credited the club's successful run in the short period down to the efforts of all those associated with it.
"I tried to create a football environment where everybody would enjoy their work," Westwood, 40, told AIFF Media. "We have chalked down a process and everybody started to take it seriously. Bengaluru FC have tapped in not one but many an area which was left untouched in Indian football before. If others start following what they have set up, that could be the biggest advertisement for the club's professionalism."
In 2013-14, Bengaluru became the first Indian club to win the I-League in their first season in top-flight football. And though a late goal by Mohun Bagan prevented them from retaining the title the next year, they did win the Federation Cup after beating Dempo in Goa that year. Under Westwood, they reclaimed the I-League title in 2015-16 and also made the knockout stages of both their campaigns in the AFC Cup.
While their run was halted in the round of 16 under Westwood by Hong Kong's South China in 2015, this year's performance in the knockout stages was largely under his successor Albert Roca. Under Roca, Bengaluru FC are unbeaten this year, winning two and drawing two of their matches each in the two-legged quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Westwood lauded the role of captain Sunil Chhetri, who scored two goals in the home leg of the semi-final, won 4-2 on aggregate against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia.
"I have always said that he's capable of winning a match on his own," Westwood said. "He has the quality and ability to ransack an opponent on his day. He's a big-match player and he has always performed on the bigger stage."