Main focus should be on present rather than past: Odisha FC boss Sergio Lobera

The Spaniard feels that his side needs to attain balance between offensive & defensive aspects.

Odisha FC, after delivering impressive displays throughout the ongoing season, is scheduled to face the consistently formidable Mohun Bagan Super Giant, this time in an Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on the 6th of December.

The Juggernauts will enter the field with great confidence, having recently defeated MBSG at the same venue in the AFC Cup. Currently, Odisha FC holds the fourth position in the points table with thirteen points from seven matches, while MBSG is positioned ahead of them in third place with fifteen points from five matches.

During the pre-match press conference, Coach Sergio Lobera and player Carlos Delgado expressed their utmost confidence regarding the upcoming encounter for Odisha FC.

Focus on the present

Although Odisha FC has achieved a remarkable feat by winning five consecutive games in recent days, coach Sergio Lobera has expressed his firm commitment to maintaining a forward-looking approach, without dwelling on past accomplishments.

Sergio Lobera said, “We are delighted with the results we have achieved in our recent games. However, as I have consistently emphasized, our main focus should be on the present rather than dwelling on the past. Currently, we are in a highly favorable position as the team is performing exceptionally well. This factor holds immense significance. I firmly believe that we are progressing each day, but there are certain areas that require improvement, particularly in attaining a balance between offensive and defensive aspects.”

“In the most recent game, our team demonstrated improvement, nevertheless, we are fully aware that our upcoming opponents possess great strength and are considered the frontrunners to secure the league title owing to their formidable squad”, Sergio Lobera added. 

Mohun Bagan’s all win run

Mohun Bagan has won each of their encounters in the 2023-24 ISL season. Odisha FC will surely look to give a fight to end the streak in the next game. On a question about it, Sergio said, “We must direct our attention towards the adversary. We are aware of their skilled players, and we understand the difficulty of preventing them from scoring while maintaining a strong defensive mindset. However, our primary focus should remain on ourselves.”   

“We are diligently engaged in our work, exerting considerable effort and striving to perpetuate this positive atmosphere. We anticipate the arrival of crucial games and aspire to sustain our winning streak throughout these upcoming matches”, added by Carlos Delgado. 

Absence of Mourtada Fall

When asked about the absence of Mourtada Fall in the team in last couple of matches, Sergio replied, “Mourtada fall is arriving, he need to try to avoid playing these games because I think he’s not physically ready but there is good news because he’s coming, he is arriving here. But the most important thing as a coach is to compete well even when there are injuries & suspensions”

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