Sergio Lobera rues Mohun Bagan's inability to kill off games after FC Goa draw dents their 2025-26 ISL title charge

Mohun Bagan will face Inter Kashi next at home

Mohun Bagan were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by FC Goa in their 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Fatorda Stadium, Goa on Saturday (9 May, 2026). Despite taking the lead through Jamie Maclaren’s goal in the second half, a Ronny Wilson equalizer enabled the Gaurs to take a point away from the Mariners and stop them from regaining their spot on top of the ISL table.

After the game, Sergio Lobera rued the Mariners’ inability to take their chances well and he stated: “I think that this situation happened again, and when you have the chance to kil the game, you need to kill the game or else you give the chance to the opponent to reach the final of the game with options.

“I felt that we needed to be more clinical in the last third, and you need to score clear-cut chances. I think that not only in this game but also in other games, we are opening the games, and the last part of the game can allow them to score one goal, and anything can happen. We need to manage games smarter and kill the game when you have a chance to score a second goal,” he also added.

“We can get a trophy in 10 days”: Sergio Lobera confident about the ISL trophy run

With Mohun Bagan now being behind East Bengal in the title race, with the Red & Gold Brigade being ahead on goal difference despite the two sides same points, Lobera was asked if this dents his side’s title aspirations. He replied: “It’s in our hands, which is the most important thing. We are disappointed as we wanted to win and we are only leaving this stadium with one point.

“The next step is to win against Inter Kashi at home, and we must put focus on that. Things are in our hands; it all depends on us, and we need to improve in some areas, and we need to learn about these situations. In the next games, we can get a trophy in 10 days. We need to work on that, and I’m positive. We are disappointed as this isn’t the result you wanted, but now that we play the next three games at home, we need to get our target,” he also added.

Sergio Lobera refuses to blame the 19-day gap

When asked if Mohun Bagan’s 19-day gap from their previous game impacted their performance against Goa.

Sergio Lobera explained: “I don’t like to cry or find excuses, because that doesn’t help us. We need to be ready for playing three games in one week. I can’t complain about this; I need to find solutions because that is my work as a coach.

“I don’t have only 11 players, I have a very good squad, and it’s my responsibility to compete at the highest level – even when it comes to playing three games in eight days. I’m happy with the fitness of the players; we showed a very good mood in fitness conditions in the last few games. The weather and humidity made things difficult for the players today, and sometimes you are more tired than in other games,” he also stated.

“I felt that we could beat them”: Sergio Lobera

Finally, Lobera refused to admit that his side had underestimated FC Goa’s threat in the clash.

He stated: “I felt that we could beat them if we scored the second goal in the moments we had the chance to do it.

“But when you are not doing that and when the minutes pass, and the opponents have chances, when they are playing well against their opponents. I felt that we could beat them, but we didn’t manage some aspects of the game well,” he finished off with.

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