Three Mohun Bagan players who can benefit from Sergio Lobera's arrival

Sergio Lobera joined Mohun Bagan from Odisha FC.

Sergio Lobera is set to usher in a new era at Mohun Bagan after being roped in as their head coach to replace Jose Molina, who has left the club. The Spanish gaffer comes into the role for the Kolkata giants with a lot of experience behind him, having already enjoyed prolific stints at FC Goa and Mumbai City in the Indian Super League (ISL) in the past.

Lobera has gained quite a bright reputation as one of the best coaches in Indian football and someone capable of getting the best out of talented players. He will be looking to ensure that the Mariners are able to recover strongly from their shaky start to the 2025-26 season and perform especially strongly in the ISL. However, he will also be determined to improve the players in his squad and ensure they are able to play to their best ability.

While Lobera will be keen on having a positive impact on all Mohun Bagan players, there are a few individuals whose playing style and skillset make them an ideal fit for Lobera’s system. Here we look at the three Mohun Bagan players who can particularly benefit from Sergio Lobera’s arrival at the club.

3. Lalengmawia Ralte

Lalengmawia Ralte actually didn’t ever get to play under Sergio Lobera at Mumbai City, as the midfielder arrived right after the Spaniard left in 2021.

However, he’ll now be able to finally link up under the Spanish gaffer – whose system is almost tailor-made for someone like Apuia. As the Indian midfielder boasts a lot of diversity to his playing style, being especially press resistant on the blal, being able to recover possession in key areas and being a proactive figure in midfield, he has all the assets to be a hit under Lobera.

The Spanish gaffer liking a possession-heavy playing style, where he relies on commanding midfielders to help his side control matches and be quick with their build-up play. As a result, Lalengmawia can be an influential player at Mohun Bagan in Lobera’s system because of him having all the skills to suit a possession-heavy style. Apuia can expect to make way more passes than he normally does and play a crucial role in playing clever forward passes between the lines to drive his side forward. He can really let his skills unleashed in the Spaniard’s system and help the Mariners play some efficient attacking football.

2. Liston Colaco

Sergio Lobera has shown the ability to have a positive impact on the Indian forwards in his side, especially in getting the best out of wingers. In Mumbai City’s 2020-21 ISL campaign, where they clinched the ISL double, Bipin Singh scored six goals – the third most for the Islanders in that campaign – which also included a goal in the final! A Mohun Bagan player who can have a similar impact under Sergio Lobera is probably Liston Colaco, who can be given the keys to be a tormenting figure for the opponents.

Liston actually performed pretty well under Jose Molina, with eight goal contributions (five goals, three assists) in this season already (the same that he had last season). Colaco has all the qualities to be a success in Lobera’s system, being quick and threatening with his dribbles to carry the ball into the danger zones. Liston will, however, need to be way more decisive and consistent with accurate final third passes and crosses, as well as efficient with his shooting to be able to be a key player under Lobera.

1. Jamie Maclaren

Jamie Maclaren has had a shaky start to the 2025-26 season for Mohun Bagan with just three goals in six matches so far. However, fortunately for him, the Australian forward will now play under a head coach who believes in the best kind of service for his strikers. Multiple foreign forwards have impressed under Sergio Lobera in the ISL, with Diego Mauricio having 15 goal contributions (nine goals, six assists) last season.

As a result, Maclaren should be ready for a more important and proactive role under the new gaffer as long as he’s ready to work hard. Maclaren could now look to drop deep and move into different positions to help open up the opposition backline and create chances.

Moreover, the Australian forward should also anticipate more consistent delivery into the box, and more chances coming his way into the final third. Maclaren could probably thrive under the attacking style of Lobera’s system, as it would mean more delivery towards him into the box and that can significantly enhance his chances to score way more goals going forward in the 2025-26 season.

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