KUALA LUMPUR: KL City coach Bojan Hodak is grateful for the Indian hospitality.
However, it will be all business when they face ATK Mohun Bagan in today's AFC Cup inter-zonal semi-final at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan, who have quality imports and Indian internationals, however, will not be a walk in the park for the City Boys.
The biggest foreign signing is defender Florentin Pogba, the brother of French World Cup winner Paul, who now plays for Serie A's Juventus.
Their other signings are French midfielder Hugo Boumous, Australian forward Dimitri Petratos and defender Brendan Hamill, Irish midfielder Carl McHugh and Finnish winger Joni Kauko.
Liston Colaco, the rising star in Indian football, will marshal Mohun Bagan's attack.
The messy travelling arrangements, no thanks to the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) requirements, affected KL's preparation for the match.
"We had a rough time, no thanks to AFC's difficult travelling requirements. We lost a day of sleep to reach here," said Hodak when contacted in Kolkata yesterday.
"However, we have recovered from the ordeal thanks to the Indian hospitality,
"Any opponent at this stage will be tough to beat. Mohun Bagan crashed out of the recent Durand Cup, so they will be looking to bounce back.
"They have several national players and quality foreigners. Petratos played for me in Kelantan 10 years ago as a teenager.
"He is someone who can turn things around individually.
"They have the same issue as us where they need to drop one of their foreign players. I have yet to decide my line-up."
Hodak added that team spirit will be the key in today's game.
"In my entire coaching career, this is the best group of players I have ever managed. Everyone plays for the team.
"We do not have superstars, and it is not a problem due to our teamwork," he added.
Mohun Bagan coach Juan Ferrando will be banking on hitman Liston, who had recorded five goals and three assists in earlier matches in the AFC Cup.
"We are not taking KL lightly. Hodak's side showed quality by overcoming Johor Darul Ta'zim to win the Malaysia Cup last year," said Liston.