Last season is last season, this is a new chapter: Jose Molina ahead of ISL 2024-25 season opener against Mumbai City FC

The new head coach also talked about his squad’s fitness and the importance of mental strength

Mohun Bagan will look to begin their 2024-25 Indian Super League campaign in an emphatic fashion when they host Mumbai City at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on Friday (13 September). It’ll be a repeat of last season’s ISL final, where the Islanders ousted the Mariners, and the Kolkata giants will look to get their revenge in front of the home support.

Jose Molina on ‘revenge’ aspect of Mumbai City clash

Mohun Bagan’s new head coach Jose Molina is not thinking about any ‘revenge’ aspect in this repeat of last season’s ISL final, as he noted: “I have been watching some matches of last season, but last season is last season. This is a new chapter. They are playing with the same coach but some different players.”

“We have a new coach and some new players. I think it’ll be an absolutely different match to the last ISL final and it doesn’t matter what happened last season. The past is the past, Now we have to work in the present to make for the best future possible, that is what we’ll do to work now to win tomorrow,” he added.

Changes from 2016 to current ISL

The Spanish gaffer of course helped Atletico de Kolkata win the ISL title in 2016. When asked about the changes he’s noticed since then, the gaffer answered: “The football has changed quickly. Eight years ago, the past is the past, it doesn’t matter what happened. The level of the league has improved since then. Everything, the players are more quality, especially the Indian players.

That is very good for Indian football and what I’m trying to do is to working hard, to help the Indian and foreign players get better if possible. I think it’s not important how football has changed, the most important is what we can do now to improve the players and help Mohun Bagan and Indian football grow as a whole.”

Mental aspect and Mumbai City rivalry

Molina also insisted on the importance of mental strength of his players, claiming: “I think mentality is always a key part of the team. When we are talking about the quality of the team, the mental aspect is also key. The pressure to control the emotions in the pitch is vital. I don’t know how Mumbai City are, but I know my players, they are really good. They did a great job in the Durand Cup, we didn’t win it and that wasn’t good but that is past. We are now focusing on tomorrow’s match. Yesterday, everyone worked together as the national team players joined in. We are really good, happy and positive.”

When asked if he considers this as a ‘special’ match, because of Mohun Bagan’s rivalry against Mumbai, he noted: “For me, the most special match is the next match we’ll play. The next game is Mumbai, that is the most special match. I’m not thinking of future matches against rivals. In this moment, I’m only thinking of Mumbai City but overall to help my players play in the best way to win against Mumbai. When the match is finished, we’ll analyse the match and will work to think about the next game. That’s my mentality, that’s what I’ve talked about a long time and that is how I’ll work.”

Defensive issues

The Spanish gaffer also rubbished claims that only the left side of his defensive line is responsible for leaking goals, as he explained: “To me, the problem isn’t about one player or one part of the team. We have a problem as an entire team if we do have a problem. That’s all the players and me as a coach. We’ll try to solve that problem and support everyone. If you think we have a problem on the left side of our defence, but I’m going to coach my team to play together, the 11 players defend and attack together and be a strong team as a whole.

“It’s not about the quality of individual players. Of course, we are not happy to be conceding goals and are trying to solve that by not conceding so often. But that is a part of football, a part of the process under a new coach and I’m not worried about that because I’m sure the team will play and we’ll attack and defend better every match, but the full team as a whole. That’s the key for me,” he also added.

Thoughts on Dippendu Biswas and plans for Chhangte

Molina also spoke glowingly about the future of young centre-back Dippendu Biswas under him, stating: “Dippendu is a young player, a really good player for his age. As a young player, he has a lot to improve, but he’s working really well. I’m sure he’ll have his minutes in the team. We’re trying to help him keep improve, because training is good to improve. That is one part of the improvement, to play matches is more important for a footballer’s development. The matches make your career as a footballer. As a coach, I have to give youngsters the opportunity to grow up by giving them minutes. I’m sure Dippendu will have minutes in the team this season.”

When asked if he has any particular plan to stop Mumbai City defender Lallianzuala Chhangte or any other individual, Molina remarked: “The plan is to defend as a whole team. We need to defend together, attack together and try that they don’t have the ball for a lot of time. If they don’t have the ball, they’ll be nervous even if they’re really good players. I’m not thinking about two Mumbai players, they have very good players overall. The wingers are dangerous, but they have other players who can be dangerous too. We have to defend as a team when they attack as a team, it’s not about individual way. We have to be a strong team defensively and going forward, everyone together!”

Mohun Bagan squad’s fitness situation

Finally, the gaffer warned that his squad are not at their 100% fitness levels but are ready enough for the ISL opener. He stated: “We are prepared for sure. If you ask me if we’re at our best physically, after six weeks no team can be at their best fitness wise.

“That is not possible, no way! But we’re in the best possible way we can be after six weeks of the season for sure, no doubt about that. We are in a very good way, fit for tomorrow’s match and the players are totally ready. We will be in our best maybe in October or November, but after six weeks into a season, no team in the world is fully ready,” he finished with.

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