Jose Molina reveals secret behind Mohun Bagan's dominance as they close in on ISL Shield

The Mariners need just three more points to clinch the trophy.

Mohun Bagan can clinch the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) shield championship when they face off against Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Sunday (23 February). The Mariners need just three more points to clinch the trophy and are determined to get the job done in front of their fans.

Head coach Jose Molina rubbished claims of his side being under pressure and facing psychological troubles before this big game, stating: “This is the best moment for us to get the shield. We are closer than any other moment before. It’s not an option for us to be overconfident or to relax. The shield is there, we have to go there and grab it. We have to play for 90 minutes to get the win.

“We can’t relax now. We can relax once we have the shield in our hands. Maybe we can relax then, but right now, it’s not an option for us to relax and be overconfident. I’m always confident with the team, with their work and how they’re playing. I’m not overconfident, this is not the time for that kind of mindset,” Mohun Bagan’s Jose Molina added.

The gaffer was again asked about the secret behind Mohun Bagan being so dominant this season, to which he replied: “There are no secrets. It’s a result of hard work. We have been working hard from the beginning, all the players have been working hard from the beginning. Everyone in the club, staff management and owners are supporting us from the beginning.

“They’ve helped us with everything we can need and after that, the quality of the players is always important. The quality is not so important, if you can’t work hard. Quality is not just enough. You need to have quality and need to work hard. That is what we’re doing from the beginning,” he added.

When asked about how he’s managed to perfectly take care of this star-studded Mohun Bagan squad, the gaffer stated: “I always say that it’s really difficult to win matches here, as all the teams are strong teams because they are working well. In my point, it’s trying to help my players. They can perform at their best, but being part of it. For me, it’s important to be a part of the team.

“For me, we’re a strong team. I try to be at my best as possible. We are trying to work for the team in their best, to be the best team as possible. It’s the way I work, I don’t know if it’s right or wrong but it’s my way. That is how I try to help my players and create the best team as possible,” Mohun Bagan’s Jose Molina also stated.

Finally, Molina also dismissed the belief that his side’s ability to get clean sheets (13 so far) have been a major reason for their success. He stated: “Of course, to have clean sheets has always helped us win matches. For me, it’s not just one key point. If I want to take one key point, it’s the hard work. It’s not the attack, intention or anything like that. Imagine if we had 21 clean sheets right now, but we couldn’t score, then we’d be on 21 points and we wouldn’t be in the top of the table or be in the top-6. Defence is key, attack is key, clean sheets are key and scoring goals are key. It’s all about the balance.

“In the beginning, we didn’t have that balance and we eventfully found it. But that balance and hard work has helped us get to where we are right now, trying to win the shield tomorrow. For me, the fooball is not one you can separate defence and attack with. You need to have everything good to be a good team, which is what we are trying to be – a good team in attack, a good team in defence and trying to be the best team as possible.

“We are happy right now, but we are not completely happy as we are still not champions. That is what we want, hopefully tomorrow can be different,” he finished off.

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