Sergio Lobera aim for win over FC Goa as Mohun Bagan enter decisive ISL title race phase

Mohun Bagan will eye a win to get the top spot back

Mohun Bagan will look to reclaim their place on top of the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) table when they face off against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa on Saturday (9 May, 2026). The Mariners will play their first game after a lengthy 19-day gap from the previous clash, and they’re eager to regain their winning spirit in the beginning of the final stretch of the ISL campaign.

With East Bengal assuming the top spot in the ISL table, Sergio Lobera was questioned if he recognizes them as the Mariners’ main rival in the title race.

Sergio Lobera replied: “My only calculation is that the three points we need against FC Goa, that is my focus at the moment. I think where we will be at the end of the season will be a big mistake, but my focus is on FC Goa to get three very important points. After that, we need to play Inter Kashi before we can play the East Bengal game. The calculations are good, but my calculations are to win the next game and take it one step at a time.”

“I won’t speak about the derby before the press conference ahead of the derby. We must respect all the teams, there are more teams involved in the situation to finish at the top of the table. We have two games before the derby, and my focus isn’t thinking about East Bengal now – it’s thinking about FC Goa,” he also added.

Thoughts on FC Goa fixture

When asked if his side will find it tough to play in the uncomfortable conditions of Goa in a 5PM kick-off clash, the Spaniard stated: “I know Goa very well because I was there with FC Goa at the beginning of my time with hem and I also won the double with Mumbai City there. It’s difficult to play there in hot weather with a lot of humidity, but there are no excuses.

“We have a very good squad, and we cannot use the weather as an excuse to have a bad performance. We need to compete at the highest level, and although I’d have preferred to play at another time in Goa, we cannot complain about the schedule now and must be ready to play against them,” Sergio Lobera also added.

He also had some favourable words to say about his former side, stating: “It’s always tough to play against FC Goa, especially when they play at home. Now, after the last result, maybe they’re playing with less pressure, and that can help them. They have a very good team and a very good coach, and it’ll be a difficult game for sure. It won’t be easy to win there, but I also have a very good squad and am excited about this challenge in the game. I’m sure we can get a very good result there if we’re at our 100%.”

Mohun Bagan playing after lengthy gap and their ability to win final matches

Despite Mohun Bagan playing after a 19-day gap from their previous game, Lobera refuses to consider that as an excuse.

He claimed, “This is the schedule. We have trained for 19 days, and now we need to play four games in practically 13 days. We can be positive and find solutions or try to find excuses; my way isn’t to find excuses. I always try to be positive. I have a very good squad, and to win trophies, you need a full squad. I’m very happy to have that squad. I would prefer to play with more space between games, but this is our schedule, and we must be ready to play at the highest level in the upcoming schedule.”

When asked if he’s confident of Mohun Bagan’s ability to win their last few matches of the campaign, Lobera replied: “I’m always confident because it’s not only about the results for us. We need to analyse the results as a professional; sometimes, when you win we can improve, but when you lose, at times, you aren’t a disastrous team.

“What gives me more confidence is taking part in training with these guys; they are amazing professionals, and they are ambitious and want to win. When you compete with these kinds of people, you need to be excited, as we are ready to compete against everyone at the highest level. I’m very optimistic and happy as a Mohun Bagan coach,” he also stated.

Mohun Bagan’s areas of improvement

Finally, when questioned about the areas of improvement he sees in Mohun Bagan’s performances for the final games of the campaign.

Lobera stated: “For sure, we can improve in a lot of things and get more balance. I think, especially after nine games, we have gotten six wins and drawn two games. That is a good balance, but if we can improve in some areas – that is, we can be more clinical to kill off games. We had chances to kill the game against Jamshedpur FC before conceding the late goals.”

“We need more balance, we are an attacking team, but we give the opponent too much space after losing the ball and are suffering at times on the transitions. We can improve in this aspect. We also need to improve on Plan B. If we try a game in one way, we need to try to adapt to conditions and play in another way. I’m happy with our performances till now, it’s not easy to finish at the top of the table, and we will fight for that,” the Spaniard finished off with.

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