Hopefully, I'm next to score in Kolkata Derby, asserts Mohun Bagan star Jamie Maclaren

Mohun Bagan are the reigning champions of the Durand Cup

The 2024-25 Indian football season began on July 27, 2024, with the incumbent champions defeating Downtown Heroes FC 1-0 in the Durand Cup 2024 season opening. The senior team, along with Head Coach Jose Molina, was yet to arrive, so Assistant Coach Bastab Roy directed the team from the bench, while Mohun Bagan’s promising youngster, Suhail Ahmed Bhat, scored the game’s sole goal.

In commemoration of Mohun Bagan Day, the whole roster for the upcoming season was announced on July 29, 2024, at the Mohun Bagan Club ground. A massive audience gathered at the stadium to watch the Kolkata heavyweights’ first day of training ahead of their domestic as well as their Asian campaigns. Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been drawn into Group A alongside arch-rivals, Emami East Bengal, Bangladesh Army, and the Indian Air Force for the Group Stage of the Durand Cup 2024.

Mohun Bagan head coach, Jose Fransisco Molina along with the Green and Maroons’ Australian international, Jamie Maclaren and club owner, Mr. Sanjiv Goenka addressed the media in a pre-season press conference which was held at the club owner’s office in the city on Tuesday afternoon.

Here we take a look at a few talking points from the excerpts that were highlighted during the media interaction.

Jose Molina’s challenge

The former Sporting Director of the Royal Spanish Football Association had lifted the ISL Trophy with the erstwhile ATK FC during his previous stint in the Indian top flight. Now, he has returned for his second stint in the ISL, and this time, he will be seen on the sidelines of Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Not just as a club, Mohun Bagan have also been recognized as an institution in Indian football for decades. With a vast array of silverware to showcase, it’s undoubtedly one of the most successful clubs in Asia. Managing such a club will be a challenge for the team’s new tactician. In the past, association managers of Spanish origin have had successful stints at the Mariners’ camp.

“Is it an extra challenge to be the coach of Mohun Bagan because it is an institution? Yes, I know. I was here in Kolkata coaching ATK, I know I am coming now for a different club, Mohun Bagan, one of the biggest clubs, not only in India but even in Asia, with a lot of history, with great fans, very passionate, supporting the team. It is a great challenge for me to be here.

I know Mohun Bagan fans want to win, want to win trophies. It is the same that I won, the same that the players won, the same that the owners won. We, every match we are going to play. Of course, it will be very difficult to win all of them, but we are going to try, we are going to work hard, we are going to make the fans, the club, the management, everybody happy, and that is the challenge,” said the Mohun Bagan Head Coach during the Press Conference.

Jose Molina’s tactical philosophy

Under Jose Molina’s tactical acumen, the erstwhile ATK FC lifted the ISL Championship Trophy. Now, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the coach aspires to achieve the same feat once again.

When asked about his tactical philosophy for the second stint, Jose Molina prefers to have good players with stealth attacking prowess in his team as the initial note. Moreover, he prefers an attacking style of play, unlike other Spanish coaches who root for a possession-holding game plan.

In his words, “Well, I think I was here some time ago, and you could see my philosophy. Of course, the most important thing is to have very good players. I think we have. The club has set up a favourable environment for us. And now, we have to allow them to develop this time inside the pitch.

“Of course, we want to be an offensive team. We want to attack; we want to be aggressive under pressure when we don’t have the ball. We want to be the team that dominates the game, you know? And we know it. Right now, everybody wants to win. And we have to be ready for that. We have to make an extra effort, maybe, to be ready for every match.”

Thoughts on AFC Champions League 2

Mohun Bagan Super Giant have qualified for the AFC Champions League 2 after the Asian Football Confederation decided to introduce a three-level pyramid to hold the Asian championships while maintaining a balance among the oppositions.

Mohun Bagan are yet to carve their name on an Asian championship trophy but with a much more promising team this time, Moina’s men will be vying for the much-awaited silverware.

Both Head Coach Jose Molina and RPSG Group’s Founder and Chairman, Mr. Sanjiv Goenka had their takes on the chances of winning the AFC Champions League 2. “I did tell you all already, we have to try to win all the matches. That is Mohun Bagan, right?

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the ISL, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Durand Cup, if it’s the Asian Champions League competition. We are going to try to do our best in every match, with all the players, with the help of the club, and the management, and try to win it. It’s important to the ISL, it’s important to the Champions League. Every match will be an important one,” said the Head Coach.

On the contrary, Mr. Sanjiv Goenka kept his point of view, precise. In his words, “The RPSG management has won four ISL titles. But that doesn’t mean we are not hungry for victory. For us, every game is important. We play to win. We may not win, but we play to win.”

Jamie Maclaren on signing for Mohun Bagan Super Giant

The 31-year-old striker from Australia has joined the Kolkata heavyweights for a reason. While reuniting with his former teammates gives the goal poacher a feeling of being at his home, far away from home. However, his urge to clinch titles has been the main driving force behind the club’s management’s success in landing another Socceroos star at Mohun Bagan club tent.

“I spoke with the coach on the way here. The big reason is I want to win trophies. I did that in Melbourne. And this club has the standards to win trophies and compete. In this country, I’ve got a lot of friends who play for this club and I’m excited to get along with them once again. I played with Dimitri Petratos for two years in Brisbane Roar. I played with Jason Cummings on the national team. Tom Aldred, I played against him and we have some of the other foreign players as well.

But I’m just excited to dominate, just like the coach said. His philosophy is to dominate the games. And as a striker, if you know you’re going to play attacking football, then chances will come your way. And that leads to wins and that leads to trophies. But I’m hungrier now than when I was five years ago. So, I’m so hungry to compete. And after the welcome I had into Kolkata from the fans, it fired up my spirit. So, I’m looking forward to playing and representing this club. And for the first time, putting on the jersey. I’m proud to be here.”

Jamie Maclaren on the Kolkata Derby

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will meet arch-rivals, Emami East Bengal in the Kolkata Derby scheduled for August 18, 2024. This will be a Group Stage tie in the ongoing Durand Cup 2024. The last time, these two teams met in the Durand Cup, it was in the finals of the previous edition which Mohun Bagan won from Dimitri Petratos’ sole strike.

On being asked about his take on the Kolkata Derby, Jamie Maclaren replied, “I’ve had the luxury of playing in many derbies in all different countries. I have watched the most recent derby, the Kolkata Derby, and saw more than 60,000 fans in the stadium.

While one goes home being happy, the other one doesn’t. So, I’m just really excited to play in a derby game. It means a lot more than just a game.

The fans have a lot of passion for their team. When I was driving in the cab on my way back from the airport, all the fans were talking about the derby. So, it shows how much they care about it, and it shows that they do care. Then trust me inside the dressing room. We care just as much. I’ve seen Dimitri Petratos and Jason Cummings score in those games, and hopefully, I’m the next one to score.”

Anwar Ali transfer saga

The Anwar Ali transfer saga has been the talk of the town lately, in this summer transfer window. While skeptical perspectives have been inconsistent, a definitive comment on the subject is yet to be issued. During Tuesday’s media interaction, Mr. Sanjiv Goenka made a statement on this matter when being questioned about the current scenario.

In Mr. Sanjiv Goenka’s words, “Firstly, let me remind all of you, I’m sure. It’s the same for each one of us. Mohun Bagan is an emotion. It’s just not a club. It’s an institution. So, when you represent Mohun Bagan, you represent much more than a club. That’s the first point.

We have this time, three World Cup players in our team which I don’t think any other team in the league has. Anwar is somebody I’m very fond of. He’s a sweet kid. I’m not going to share the club’s stand in a press conference. Particularly when the matter is in front of the players’ committee. It’s for them to take the call. It’s for us to abide by it. We are Mohun Bagan. We are dignified.”

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will play their next Group Stage fixture of Durand Cup 2024 on August 8, 2024, against the Indian Air Force Football Team, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

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