ISL 2025-26: Owen Coyle feels whoever finishes above Mohun Bagan SG will win the ISL

Both teams are winless in their last two games

In a short and constricted ISL season, Jamshedpur FC and reigning Indian champions Mohun Bagan SG have emerged as two of the top contenders to win the ISL Shield. However, both teams, who had perfect winning streaks, dropped points massively in the last two games.

Mumbai City FC grabbed that opportunity with folded hands, leapfrogging both teams to take the top spot. Given how fine the margins are, this is a pretty crucial game for both sides, as any hiccups at this stage would result in lagging behind the title race by miles.

Ahead of the big game against Mohun Bagan SG, coach Owen Coyle and player Mark Zo briefed the team about the team’s preparation and how they plan to neutralize Mohun Bagan SG’s threats.

Owen held high admiration for Sergio Lobera

Both coaches are unarguably among the best coaches ever in Indian football. Sergio Lobera is the first coach ever to win the ISL Shield and ISL Cup in the same season and has led top teams to glory. Owen feels that Lobera leading a strong Mohun Bagan SG squad makes this game even more difficult.

Coyle said, “The margins in this league are very fine. Decisions can go against you, as we’ve experienced ourselves. What I do believe is that Mohun Bagan have outstanding quality. They have a fantastic squad, probably two strong teams within it. They also have a top coach in Sergio, whom I respect a lot. It’s a big game for both teams, and while we respect them, we believe that if we are at our best, we can win.”

“Every game is important, but when you play a top team like Mohun Bagan, it becomes even bigger. I genuinely believe whoever finishes above them will win the league. For us, it’s a great benchmark to see where we stand.”

Owen prioritizes defensive structure against strong Mohun Bagan SG attack

Mohun Bagan SG have assembled an excellent attacking unit, including the likes of Jason Cummings, Jamie Mclaren, Manvir Singh and many more.

At a time, when JFC have struggled to score, the Mariners went on ran riot against MSC, but have been quiet in the last two games.

Coyle added, “If I start making plans for individual players, I would need one for almost every player they have. They are loaded with talent. Our focus is on ourselves. We need to be solid without the ball and creative when we have it. If we perform at our level, we can create chances against any team.”

“It’s about balance. We must stay organized defensively but also express ourselves in attack. Players like Sanan, Ritwik, Nikola, and Rei can cause problems for any opposition. The key is to take care of the ball and be more clinical with our chances.”

Owen shares injury update on Madih Talal

Owen Coyle shared a critical injury update on Madih. He selflessly spoke about how Madih had a career-threatening injury once, and now he has gone back to France for further treatments.

He said that scans would reveal how serious his condition is, but Owen is optimistic about Madih’s arrival.

Coyle added, “He is a big player for us. He has gone back to France for treatment and recovery. We are waiting on scan results, and hopefully he can return within a couple of games, but we won’t rush it.”

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