We have worked well in the break, says Sergio Lobera before Mohun Bagan game

Odisha FC boss Sergio Lobera also spoke about the pressure of finishing at the top of the ISL table.

Odisha FC are scheduled to compete against Mohun Bagan in their upcoming Indian Super League (ISL 2023-24) match, set to take place on February 24, 2024 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. 

This highly anticipated fixture will feature the top two teams in the league vying for the coveted first position in the points table. Presently, Odisha FC lead the standings with 31 points, closely followed by Mohun Bagan at second place with 29. The outcome of this match will determine which team secures the top position, at least until their subsequent fixture.

The pre-match press conference was graced by the presence of Odisha FC’s head coach Sergio Lobera and player Amrinder Singh, who shared valuable insights ahead of the upcoming match.

Playing after a while 

Odisha FC are going to play their first match after a gap of 15 days. When a question was raised about picking up the pace again after the break, coach Sergio Lobera replied, “We have worked very well in the break. It’s a big game for us and we are also well prepared for it.”

A look at the points table 

Odisha FC are now leading the ISL points table. There will surely be added pressure on the side to hold the position and move ahead in the league. But the tactician looked quite relaxed when a question was raised about the same.

He said, “Honestly, the pressure is more on Mumbai City FC and FC Goa. Yes, we are now in a good position and we are ambitious to finish the season in the best possible position, but that’s not a pressure for us.”

Inclusion of Antonio Habas at Mohun Bagan

Since the inclusion of Antonio Habas in the team, Mohun Bagan have found back their momentum in the league and are now placed second in the standings. 

“In simple words, we are going to play against a different team this time. If we start thinking about the last game, then it will be our biggest mistake. Some of their major players have recovered from injury and practically they are coming with an almost full squad,” the coach mentioned.

Thought about facing Central Coast Mariners FC in AFC Cup

Odisha FC are going to face Australian side Central Coast Mariners FC in the AFC Cup Inter-Zonal semi-finals which is scheduled for March, 2024.

Sergio Lobera looked quite excited to face the A-League outfit, as he said, “It’s really amazing to play against one of the top clubs of Australia. Our target is to show everyone that Indian football is ready to compete against the Australian teams.”

“We watched the game yesterday and they are a very good team to compete against. But as the coach said, it is a new challenge and we need to be ready for it,” asserted Amrinder Singh.

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