New Asante Kotoko Coach Mariano Barreto has suggested he’s not joined the club to work wonders but instill basic football principles that will help make the club a winsome side.

The Portuguese tactician was confirmed as the new gaffer of the Porcupine Warriors last week and takes charge with immediate effect. Barreto, a former Black Stars Head Coach will work with a club whose fans are highly expectant of success on the pitch especially in big competitions.

These towering expectations and demands from fans often heap pressure on Kotoko coaches even before they start work. Subsequent inability of coaches to deliver accordingly triggers calls for dismisaal; with management bowing to these calls from the fans mostly.

However, Barreto has explained he’s not in to work miracles but rather transfuse certain principles that will help steer the team towards success.

In his first official interview with the club, the Portuguese tactician replied when asked about what fans should expect.

“So what the fans can expect, nothing special… What they can expect (from the team) is hard work, discipline and trying to help in the development,” Coach Barreto revealed.

“Asante Kotoko have only one target… win, second place will be nothing for us. It’s the first of the last so it is a good challenge,” he added.

“I know my players… I had a short meeting with them. I gave them a message about what they need to do. They must fight each game. We will give everything we have on the field. We know in football we cannot win all games. But if somebody must win points from us it should not be because we didn’t fight,” he concluded.

It’s no secret Mariano Barreto is a strict disciplinarian who ensures his players go by his orders, though he’s no authoritarian. He also believes in hard work and mostly focuses on his players being physically fit to execute his energy sapping game plans.

New Asante Kotoko Coach Mariano Barreto has suggested he’s not joined the club to work wonders but instill basic football principles that will help make the club a winsome side.

The Indian-born Portuguese tactician was confirmed as the new gaffer of the Porcupine Warriors last week and takes charge with immediate effect. Barreto, a former Black Stars Head Coach will work with a club whose fans are highly expectant of success on the pitch especially in big competitions.

These towering expectations and demands from fans often heap pressure on Kotoko coaches even before they start work. Subsequent inability of coaches to deliver accordingly triggers calls for dismisaal; with management bowing to these calls from the fans mostly.

However, Barreto has explained he’s not in to work miracles but rather transfuse certain principles that will help steer the team towards success.

In his first official interview with the club, the 64 year old former Ethiopian national team coach replied when asked about what fans should expect.

“So what the fans can expect, nothing special… What they can expect (from the team) is hard work, discipline and trying to help in the development,” Coach Barreto revealed.

“Asante Kotoko have only one target… win, second place will be nothing for us. It’s the first of the last so it is a good challenge,” he added.

“I know my players… I had a short meeting with them. I gave them a message about what they need to do. They must fight each game. We will give everything we have on the field. We know in football we cannot win all games. But if somebody must win points from us it should not be because we didn’t fight,” he concluded.

It’s no secret Mariano Barreto is a strict disciplinarian who ensures his players go by his orders, though he’s no authoritarian. He also believes in hard work and mostly focuses on his players being physically fit to execute his energy sapping game plans.

He has had working experiences in his native Portugal with Maritimo while also coaching in Angola, Russia, Cyprus and
Saudi Arabia.