Sergio Lobera: Proud of our players but not happy with the result

Odisha FC bottled a two-goal lead today.

In a riveting encounter during the ISL 2023-24, Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant played out a thrilling draw, each netting two goals. The match unfolded with relentless pressure from both sides, showcasing unwavering grit and determination. 

Armando Sadiku and Ahmed Jahouh emerged as the heroes, each scoring a brace for their respective teams. Odisha initially believed victory was in their grasp, only for Sadiku to shatter their hopes with a dramatic equaliser in the dying moments of the game. 

Let’s take a look on what Odisha FC’s head coach Sergio Lobera had to say after the game:

Started Well but Fell short at the end

Odisha at one point were two goals up against Mohun Bagan, but couldn’t hold onto the advantage for much longer. The coach highlighted, “Yes, we started well and my feeling today is we lost two points.”

“We lost two points. One of many is that we had a chance, a clear chance to score and make the scoreline 1-3, and finally they scored 2-2. We have scored 1-3, the game would have been over. But, I am proud of our players, but I am not happy with the result”, the coach added.

Ahmed Jahouh’s substitution 

Ahmed Jahouh, a pivotal figure for Odisha and the scorer of the two first-half goals, was substituted in the 57th minute. When asked whether the midfielder’s substitution was the turning point of the game, the coach addressed,

“Honestly, Ahmed Jahouh is a very important player. But for me as a coach, it is not possible to come here and tell you we lost the game. It’s not true, we need to compete and compete. For the remaining games, Ahmed Jahouh is a very important player for us.”

Diego Mauricio over Roy Krishna

Roy Krishna, a former Mohun Bagan player, was benched today, with Diego Mauricio chosen over him, despite Krishna being more familiar with the Salt Lake Stadium’s ambiance.

“Roy is an amazing player, an amazing professional. It is difficult for me sometimes to choose one. Diego and Roy are amazing players, but in the end I need to choose one. And I think in this game Diego was a good option for us. Bringing Roy in the second half, we have other games and also we have an important game in a few days”, the tactician compounded.

Difficult game for Both Teams

Both teams battled it out until the end to clinch victory. Several brawls were witnessed during the match, prompting the coach to respond, “This is Football. I think it’s normal, it was a difficult game for both teams.”

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