Mumbai: Atletico de Kolkata captain and marquee player Luis Garcia said his team's 1-0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the final of the inaugural season of the Indian Super League reminded him of Liverpool's win against AC Milan in the final of the 2005 Champions League.
Atletico de Kolkata lifted the inaugural ISL trophy, courtesy an injury time goal by substitute Mohammed Rafique, which powered the Sourav Ganguly co-owned side to a 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters in the final on Saturday.
Rafique, who replaced Mohammad Rafi in the 74th minute of the mega clash at the packed DY Patil stadium, followed up a corner from Czech defender Jakub Podany to fire the header in the fourth minute of the injury time to give Kolkata the Cup.
The former Liverpool winger heaped praise on Rafique and goalkeeper Edel Bete for the team's victory.
"It was unbelievable (Bete's save in 83rd minute). The team worked so hard but that save and Rafique's goal was worth an award," he said at the post-match press conference.
The Spanish player also mentioned his disappointment on missing out of the playing XI.
"I was very disappointed. At the end, this is the kind of game a player wants to play. When I arrived here, all the people during the whole season, we've been working so hard. All the 30 players have been working from the start in Madrid. We know that even when we don't play or don't have chances in games sometimes, for our hard work we deserve this trophy," he said.
"It kind of (was like the 2005 Champions League win in 2005). It was a final. It was important for us as we were working hard for the last three months. To arrive here after struggling in the middle of the competition was very important and we got the trophy," he added.
It was a befitting finish to the new league - billed as an effort to restore Indian football to its lost glory - as the last and winning goal of the season was scored by an Indian.
Garcia said the ISL has managed to achieve some of it's targets such as the Indian players showing their potential at a big stage.
"In the first conference in Kolkata we said that this ISL is not just a competition for the marquee players or for international players. We came here to help football grow in India. What we were looking for was these kinds of things, for Indian players to come out and show their potential because there is potential in India," he said.
Coach Antonio Habas seconded Garcia. "I think the youth in India have huge potential but needs to improve a lot at the base in youth academies."
When asked why Garcia was kept out of the match, he said: "Luis has a problem with his hamstring. He is our marquee player but not only important with what he did on the field but also with what he did with the other players. We like to thank Rafique, we know he hasn't had many games in the season but he waited for his moment and today he is a hero."
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