Jose Molina Weighs In On Jamie Maclaren & Jason Cummings Form, Punjab FC Threat Before ISL clash

Jose Molina’s Mohun Bagan sit at the top of ISL table.

Jose Molina’s Mohun Bagan looks to keep their winning momentum going in their upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) clash against Punjab FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Wednesday (5 February).

The Mariners have won all three matches against the Shers so far in their ISL history. Despite that, Jose Molina is not taking this game lightly at all as he highlighted Punjab FC’s quality before the game, saying: “After they won the last match, winning in the last match of the game, that always encourages the team to keep working. It’s a really happy moment that helps the team to keep working.

“They are coming into the game with a lot of confidence to get a good result, but at the same point, I know they are a really tough opponent and I have no doubt that they think the same about us. It’ll be a strong battle between two good teams on the pitch. Hopefully, as we’re here at home in front of our fans, who will come to help us in our goal to get any three crucial points,” he also added.

The Spanish gaffer was all praise for Jason Cummings, who provided two assists in the win over Mohammedan Sporting and an individual Punjab’s head coach Panagiotis Dilberis pointed out as Mohun Bagan’s scariest threat right now.

Molina responded to this by stating: “Jason is a great player, there is no doubt about that. He is doing really well, helping the team a lot. Whether he plays from the beginning or comes in from the bench, he’s doing really, really well. But we are a team. We try to be dangerous as a whole unit. Every player has their role inside the team. For the rest of the coaches, the fans – if they prefer to praise one player – that is good.

“But for me, the most important is the team – not one player, two players, attacking players or defenders. For me, football is a team sport and the importance is the team and inside the team in helping players to develop their best in trying to help the team. I understand other people can feel that Cummings is dangerous and that is an opinion I respect. But my point is that I want my team as strong as possible,” he also claimed.

When asked if he’s worried about his other Australian forward Jamie Maclaren, who has only scored six goals in 18 games this season, the gaffer reflected: “Maclaren is doing a great job, in my opinion. He’s working really hard, and playing really well. Maybe we as a team aren’t helping him enough to score more goals, but that is not because he’s not a good player or he’s going through a bad time. He’ll score a lot of goals for Mohun Bagan as he’s here on a multi-year contract.

“What we’re trying to do is to help all the strikers, not only them, they need the rest of the team creating more chances to score. Maybe we have to improve in that aspect to help our strikers to score more goals. I’m absolutely happy with Maclaren,” Molina finished off with.

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