"I am more than enough proud of my players": David Catala opens up after loss against Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Kerala Blasters faced a 2-0 defeat against Mohun Bagan
Kerala Blasters FC began their Indian Super League campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on the 14th of February. A first-half goal by Jamie Maclaren and a late header goal by Tom Aldred sealed the victory for the Mariners.
Mohun Bagan controlled much of the first half and applied steady pressure, keeping Sachin Suresh busy between the sticks. The Kerala defence stood firm through sustained pressure in the first half, holding their shape well until the opening goal arrived.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Petratos cut the ball back from the right, and Jamie Maclaren turned inside the box before finishing low past Sachin. Mohun Bagan carried a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Blasters began to find more rhythm in possession in the second half and pushed higher up the pitch. They continued to press in the closing stages, but Mohun Bagan sealed the result deep into stoppage time when Michael Aldred headed home from a free-kick to make it 2-0.
Following the loss, Kerala Blasters FC head coach David Catala addressed the media. Here’s a detailed report on the post-match press conference for the match between Kerala Blasters FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
About the match
Catala told the media that he could not be prouder of his squad, who stepped onto the pitch with limited training. He emphasised the work rate of his players, how they kept going until the last minute of the game. The gaffer also said that the performance in this match was a statement of character and readiness to compete against the other teams.
“Yes, we knew that the game was strong, we faced one of the best teams of the league. But, I cannot be more proud about my players, how they fought even in the last minutes of the game. We pushed a lot and had chances to even draw the game. I am very proud of the effort they made until the last minute, some of the players couldn’t run more because with that preparation, they effort they have put was amazing.”
“And this the way to compete. Atleast today we showed the character, we showed that we are alive and we are the team that wants to compete against all the opponents and I am happy with myself. Just good words about my players and I am really, really proud of them”
On benching Kevin and Marlon
When questioned why Kevin Yoke and Marlon Roos were benched for the entire first half, Catala pointed out the fact that the players have not been competing in professional football for some months now and it was not practical to start them and let them play the entire ninety minutes. The coaching staff planned to bring in the players in the second half to allow them to adjust to the rhythm and tempo of the game.
“So specifically, we planned to at least maintain the level of performance physically during the 90 minutes. We know that Kevin and Marlon are new players. They have been there for a long time without competing, and today to put them for ninety minutes, for sure in the halftime, maybe they couldn’t continue. So that’s why the plan was to keep at least the reserve close to them and in the last 30-35 minutes, to give us this energy which happened, and yeah, that’s it”
On the quality of the opponents
Catala was asked about his point of view on the factors that led to Mohun Bagan registering the victory, to which he replied;
“The key factor has been that they are a really good team. The opponent pushes you, and you have to defend all the time. They have good-quality players. And it’s difficult if you are not fit enough, as we are right now. They made chances they created opportunities. I believe in different situations, we could have performed better. But I repeat again, with that level of preparation we had, I am more than enough proud about my players”
Blasters will now return to their home as they are all geared to face Mumbai City FC on the 22nd of February at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
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Niranjan R Prabhu is an Economics student from Kochi with an enduring passion for Indian football, especially as a devoted Kerala Blasters FC fan — a club he considers part of his life. Beyond the game, he writes on culture, Indian economic development, and sustainability, always eager to explore ideas in depth. His days are a balancing act between college, writing, and travel.