Mohun Bagan's Jose Molina reflects on upcoming Odisha FC challenge in ISL

The coach also talks about former players Roy Krishna and Hugo Boumous.

Mohun Bagan will look to continue their winning run in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) when they travel to face Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on Sunday (10 November). The Mariners can move closer to the top spot with another win. They face a wounded Odisha FC side that have had a shaky start to the new campaign.

Ahead of the game, head coach Jose Molina was questioned on the factor of Mohun Bagan facing off against two former players Roy Krishna and Hugo Boumous. The two foreigners have started the season relatively well and the Spaniard has urged his side to restrict them from playing their best football. He stated: “I can’t tell what they are thinking about the match. It’s true that always whenever you play against former teams, it’s like an extra motivation to try to do a better job.

“I respect them and in my opinion they are really good players, but on the pitch, I have confidence in my players and the work they are doing to expect we’ll have a good match. We can’t allow them to play their best football. I expect us to have a good match and hopefully we can win it and bring the three points to Kolkata and go into the break in a happy mood,” he added.

On Sergio Lobera and the opponents

When asked about Sergio Lobera and if he treats this as a ‘special match’ because of the star power in Odisha FC’s side, Jose Molina explained: “I always have to analyze the rivals, to know how they’re playing and what they can do against us. I try to prepare the match in my best way with my players. For me, it’s not a special match. All I can say is that it’s a special match as it’s the best one we are going to play. Every match we’re going to play is special for me. I have to take care of everything.

“The opponent team, what the opponent coach can have in his mind preparing for the match against us, what the players can have in their minds. I have to do that. Be it with Lobera, Thangboi Singto or any other coach I have to face. It’s the same with the players too. Odisha are a really good team, really good players, really good coach.

“They might not be at their best, but they’re really good and we have to go there focused, train our best and spend our best 90 minutes inside the pitch to try and win. We’re preparing for the match for the last seven days. Thinking about how they attack, defend or do in set-pieces. That’s how we prepare for matches,” he further added.

Mohun Bagan are on a three-match winning run in the ISL and will look to make that four-wins-in-a-row with a win at the Kalinga Stadium.

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