It's a mistake to think any game will be easy to win, says Jose Molina on ISL 2024-25 Media Day

The Mariners have assembled a locked and loaded ensemble of stars ahead of the ISL 2024-25.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant won the much coveted Indian Super League(ISL) League Winners’ Shield 2023-24, ticking the trophy off their checklist. Although the Kolkata outfit lost the playoffs final to Mumbai City FC, who exacted revenge for their final matchday loss, the Mariners made sure that both trophies exchanged cities. 

Jose Molina has overseen the same side to make it to the Durand Cup 2024 finals after his return to the club but will be somewhat unsatisfied after being unable to stop the high-flying NorthEast United from getting their hands on their first-ever trophy.

Molina sat down with the media in Kolkata alongside captain Dimitri Petratos, and Jason Cummings to address them ahead of the upcoming season.

On who can be the primary contenders and challenge Mohun Bagan in the ISL

Having helped ATK win the ISL in 2016, Jose Molina is well aware of the challenges in the league. Though the scenario has changed entirely, the mentor did not make ambitious promises and was grounded when quizzed about whether he could name a club or two who could be potential contenders against them in the league, replying, “It’s not possible (crowd laughs). To be honest with you, I don’t know. I have my experience some years before here in the ISL. I know it wasn’t easy to win. 

I’m sure it’s still the same way. If you think any game will be easy to win, that’s a mistake. And I’m not telling you any particular club that can fight for the title because we have some good players fighting for it. The only thing I can tell you is that we are going to work as hard as possible to win the title at the end. But (there are) a lot of good teams here (in the ISL). “

On the team’s readiness

Jose Molina was quoted saying that his team wasn’t “ready” after the Durand Cup concluded. Now with a maximum of eight to ten possible training sessions, the tactician elaborated on the same, explaining, “You know, that is a process. We are starting to work together for one month. We have to improve still a lot of things to be the team that I want to be. The players are doing a great job from the beginning. I’m absolutely happy with them. We are going to keep working in the same way. I’m sure we are going to have a really good season.

Now we have 10 days to prepare. Not in the best way possible because we have seven players here. I think that will be two or three days before the match. But that is not a problem. We are very happy now. We are going to train, we are going to prepare a lot. But the players coming from the national team, coming with us, still we have two or three days to prepare. Confidence in the players, in our job, in our work. I’m looking forward to playing in Mumbai (City) on the 13th.”

Jason Cummings on working with Jose Molina

The head coach was recently seen being extremely strict with his players in a video on Mohun Bagan’s social media handles. Jesting about the same and at the same time praising his mentor, Mariners’ Aussie striker Jason Cummings remarked, “No, it’s okay. He is a friend of mine. He is a little better at times(smiles). No, it’s good. His training has been really good. It’s early doors. We have got a completely new team this season. But as you see in the Durand Cup, we played well at times. 

“We got to the final and it was a good campaign. I’m excited to work with the manager this season. I’m learning from him. He has got amazing experience. He has been here before. He has had an amazing career as well. It’s early doors, but I’m excited to learn from him. It’s going to be exciting.”

On whether there is going to be pressure to perform for the coach

Jose Molina was cool as a cucumber, shrugging off concerns that he might be buckling under pressure for the upcoming season. He cited his long experience as a player and a manager as he commented, “Pressure is not for me. It’s for the team. Pressure has never been a problem for me.

“I am now 30 years working in the football industry. Pressure is, besides me, not a problem. Of course, last season was a great season for Mohun Bagan. No doubt. They did a great job. Another manager did a great job too. 

“This is a different season. We have to start again. We are not going to win matches. Last season was a great season. We have to win matches. We have to be 19 minutes better than our opponents. That is what we have to do. We are thinking about the last season.

“We are not prepared for that season. The past is the past. Of course, I was not prepared. I am not thinking about the past. I am thinking about the present and the future. I am working for the future. I am trying to have the best future as possible. The priority is Mohun Bagan. That is what I have now in my mind. Nothing more.”

Dimitri Petratos on Jamie Maclaren

Club captain Dimitri Petratos praised new teammate and A-League all-time topscorer Jamie Maclaren as he mentioned the benefits of having him on his side, saying, “Yes, of course. Jamie Maclaren is a top player. He is a good signing for us. He speaks for himself. He is the highest goalscorer in Australia. We feel that we have got him here. As you say, it is good competition. It gives the coach a hard job to pick the team.

“It is healthy. It motivates us even more to keep our jersey when it comes to the match day. Mohun Bagan, we have recruited him well. We have a lot of good players.”

On juggling multiple competitions at once

Mohun Bagan will be playing in numerous tournaments this season; the ISL, AFC Champions League Two, and then the Super Cup. Talking about how he will be managing so many assignments side-by-side Jose Molina mentioned, “ I don’t know what to say. Because it’s difficult for me to understand that question, right? No, I mean I understand the language (the crowd bursts out in laughter). The point is, to me, all the matches are the same. It’s not because of two different competitions. It doesn’t matter.

It’s not a different plan for different competitions. We are going to prepare every match in the best way possible, trying to win. It doesn’t matter the competition. It doesn’t matter against who, which is the rival, the opponent. It doesn’t matter where if it’s in Kolkata or away. It doesn’t matter.

“We have to prepare every day in the best way possible to win the next match. The next match that we are going to play, right? And then today, we start to prepare for the Mumbai match. Okay? When we finish that match, we start to prepare the second one. When we finish the second one, we start to prepare the third one.

It doesn’t matter the competition. I will try to have my players in the best way possible. And as a coach, of course, I will try to make the selection for every match in the best way possible. Trying to help them to win the matches because they are in the same pitch. And they have to score goals, to defend, to run, to. I have to help them from the sidelines. Right?”

Dimitri Petratos on breaking into the first team in the presence of multiple talented attackers

With proven forwards like Jason Cummings and Greg Stewart and now Jamie Maclaren in the team, Dimitri Petratos is sure to start in more than one position for the Mariners this season. The forward talked about his versatility and proving his worth to the coach to break into the starting eleven amidst such a star-studded lineup, elaborating, “I think it’s all about hard work. How hard you train, how hard you play. So, it’s a great experience to play with them. I also try to do hard work and play for the team, to help the team. 

“I’m looking forward to helping the team and doing hard work inside the pitch and outside the pitch. So, I’m looking forward to playing with them. Look, every season I don’t go out and set goals for myself. I just go out and give my best every game. So, this is my main focus. Give my best, enjoy myself and whatever happens, go for the win. This is the main thing.” 

On how India can produce youth prodigies of Lamine Yamal’s level

FC Barcelona’s youth sensation Lamine Yamal broke multiple records as he helped Spain win the UEFA Euro 2024. Jose Molina gave a consolidated answer when asked what it would take for India to produce such gems as he summarised, “It’s not easy, man. But because he’s high level, he will do his best.

“But the key thing to create players is to have good facilities. To start with young players, 8, 9, 10 years old maximum. And to have good coaches who can help them grow and who can teach them how to play football. In the techniques, in the tactics. Everything, you know. That’s the point. There’s no secret about that. 

In first-level football countries in the world, kids are playing from 5, to 6 years old. A lot of academies with good facilities, good coaches, they can have good balls, good grass, to improve. And good coaches who can teach them how to play football. It’s the same. If you want to be a lawyer or a doctor, you know, what do you need? A good school, a good academy, good resources to study, good teachers. Yeah, it’s the same. There’s no secrets, you know. 

And when India can have a lot of academies around the country with young players, with good coaches teaching them, India will have players like Lamine Yamal or like Jude Bellingham or like Phil Foden. Because you have a lot of kids here, right? It’s a lot of population. You know, if you work with the kids, they will be good for sure.”

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