Mohun Bagan head coach looks confident ahead of Kolkata Derby Durand Cup 2026 opener
The Mariners could start with an all-Indian XI
Mohun Bagan SG is set to face their arch rivals East Bengal FC in their first game in the Durand Cup 2026, as it will be the opening game of the competition on 25th July, 2026. The Kolkata Derby has a rich history and legacy, and both of the teams know it very well as they both eye their first three points from this tie.
The head coach of Green and Maroon looks very confident ahead of the big game, as it is the first Kolkata Derby for him, as he coached Punjab FC earlier. Having taken charge of Mohun Bagan SG, Panagiotis Dilmperis targets winning from the very first game in the Durand Cup, and they don’t envy East Bengal FC, as they are the current ISL champions.
Here you can take a look at the pre-match press conference footage from the Mohun Bagan press conference.
Panos Dimperis eyes a win over East Bengal in the Kolkata Derby
It will be the first match of Panagiotis Dilmperis as the head coach of Mohun Bagan SG and ironically, it has to be a Kolkata Derby. Having taken charge for the first time, if you have the chance to coach a team like Mohun Bagan in a Kolkata Derby, it could be a golden opportunity for anyone.
Head coach of the Mariners, Panos Dimperis, locked his eyes on clinching the first three important points from this game against East Bengal, as it might help them to start their journey in a very smooth way in the Durand Cup 2026.
“Starting with a derby against East Bengal is something that makes me feel excited because this is the reason why football exists. Football is for derbies, football is for competition and of course, joining a club like Mohun Bagan with this fan base, with the culture and the history, and huge expectations creates for me not an accident but big motivation.”
“And to be honest, I’m so focused to this game since the day that I stepped on at Kolkata that all the other things around football didn’t make any sense to me.”
Dilmperis look to build a new modern football system with Mohun Bagan
Although Dilmperis didn’t have that much time to explore his squad, he is ready to build a new and different kind of footballing system with the Green and Maroon Brigade, as he mentioned in the press conference.
For Punjab FC we saw in the last ISL season that he played with a great team and got the results with his philosophy, and now at Mohun Bagan, he is looking to build the same kind of system.
“My philosophy is equal to the modern football. I love possession. I love attacking patterns, playing with attacking patterns. I love defending transitions. The time that we are losing the ball, press on the spot and win the ball again.”
“For sure, attacking transitions with players that we will support and finish really fast and with a certain way of defending.”
“But, it cannot happen in three days, in three sessions. Some of these things, we might be able to see them tomorrow. But, we cannot blame the players because they will not be able to do it.”
“Every match is a derby for me”: Panagiotis Dilmperis
“Football is 11 to 11 in a box, 110 metres by 7. This is where I work. I’m on the line working hard with my players and all the other things is out of my mind.”
“You know me, we’ve been there a lot of times and I don’t do politics. For me, every game is a derby. I don’t sleep the same way the previous night, even I play against the last team of the standings or the first team of the standings.”
“My life is football since I was born. Every day is a derby, every session is a derby. So, I know, I understand. I understand that this is a huge derby for the city. But, for me, it’s also one more game that we have to win.”
Faith in the Indian core
The head coach of the team praised the quality of his domestic squad as he stated his team has the best Indian players, and he is very confident about them.
“I have the best Indian players in India. Foreigners are good players and are more than welcome, but when you see these players in your roster, you feel confident.”
Dezan Drazic is looking forward to getting some minutes in the Derby
Former FC Goa forward Dezan Drazic is one of the best signings of Mohun Bagan for the next season as he will play a key role for the team, and as the Kolkata Derby is approaching his inclusion in the team is a big question.
Drazic just landed a few days ago in Kolkata, and he didn’t get the full training sessions with the team, but as he said, he is looking forward to playing in the biggest game in Indian football.
“I do my best. I know that this is my first day here and I am working my maximum, so we will see tomorrow what the decision is. Right now, I am just happy that I don’t have an injury or something like that because I come after long time in the ground, so that’s it.”
“I am also against every match, every game. I feel some positive pressure- how can I say, pressure? But I like this because I am focused, and I know if I don’t feel like this or whatever. So, I like to feel some positive pressure on people.”
When will Mohun Bagan SG face East Bengal FC in the Durand Cup 2026?
Mohun Bagan SG will take on East Bengal FC on 25 July 2026 in the opening match of the 135th Durand Cup.
Why is this Kolkata Derby special for Panagiotis Dilmperis?
It will be Dilmperis’ first competitive match as Mohun Bagan SG head coach and his first Kolkata Derby since taking charge of the club.
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Rohit Mistri is a sports journalist from Kolkata with over two years of experience in the field. He has extensively covered Indian football, including major tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League and the Indian Super League. His work spans on-ground reporting, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling, along with interviews of prominent sporting personalities. Rohit brings strong communication skills and a deep passion for sports narratives to everything he writes.