Jose Molina opens up on secret for Mohun Bagan's dominance in winning ISL 2024-25 double

Jose Molina’s Mohun Bagan have been unbeaten in home for the entire season.

Jose Molina’s Mohun Bagan became only the second team in Indian Super League (ISL) history to win the double (league shield and trophy) with their 2-1 win over Bengaluru FC in the 2024-25 ISL final on Saturday (April 12, 2025).

Despite going behind through a Alberto Rodriguez own goal in the 49th minute, the Mariners rallied back through Jason Cummings (72′) and Jamie Maclaren (96′) goals to clinch the win in extra time.

Jose Molina on the penalty controversy

After the game, Jose Molina spoke about the controversy over the way his side earned the penalty, with the opposition coach Gerard Zarazoga showing disdain at the way it was given. He stated: “When you don’t win, you always look for excuses. I never look for excuses when I lost, I lost badly in Bengaluru 3-0 at the beginning of the season, but I didn’t look for excuses.

“I could’ve said stuff about the referee in that match and maybe I could’ve said something about refereeing in different matches, especially in the Jamhsedpur FC in the semifinals. That is a part of football. I didn’t know if it was a penalty, I couldn’t see from the bench. To se clearly and complain is to look for excuses and I never do that. Maybe some day I will do it, but it’s not my style to complain. I always think what I can do better,” he also added.

On Mohun Bagan’s dominance in ISL

Molina was also asked about the reason for his side’s sheer dominance in the 2024-25 ISL campaign, to which he replied: “Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. We lost against NorthEast United in the Durand Cup final, it wasn’t a good day. But I always truested myself and trusted the work I was doing with the playrs. There were some doubts in the beginning; that was understandable.

“But that was a process and I believed in the process. This ISL double is the result of the process, to win the ISL shield and cup together in the same season is a first in Mohun Bagan history. When you have the tools, which are the players and the staff, the fans, everything we have in Mohun Bagan – then finally the results will come and they came,” he further stated.

Favourite moment from this season

Finally, the gaffer was asked to state some of his favorite moments from Mohun Bagan’s double-winning season and he replied: “I try to enjoy every moment. We had some moments that we had to suffer but I have a lot of moments to enjoy. Everyday, we played well and we won. Every match that we didn’t play that well, but still we won, that was amazing. I enjoyed with the process.

“Watching my team get better everyday and how the team improve every day. After that, some key moments – we can say about some victories in the last moments of the matches (Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC) that was amazing. For me, ever day is a great one to be here coaching and to enjoy with my players and staff,” he finished off with.

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