It is always difficult to play against Mohun Bagan - Singto

The Reds manager is looking for an improved performance from his team after defeat to Bengaluru FC...

After a disastrous start to their I-League campaign this year against the defending champions Bengaluru FC, Shillong Lajong head coach Thangboi Singto made it clear that he wasn’t expecting their next opponents, Mohun Bagan, to deliver a lightweight performance.

“It is always difficult to play against Mohun Bagan. They are a top side with quality players,” said Singto in the pre-match conference in Kolkata, where his team will face Mohun Bagan in their second I-League fixture. Mohun Bagan currently possesses arguably the best squad in India which consists of Indian players such as Jeje Lalpekhlua, Debjit Majumder, Sehnaj Singh, Anas Edathodika and Pritam Kotal as well as foreigners such as Sony Norde, Katsumi Yusa and Darryl Duffy. However, even with Norde being ruled out of the fixture against the Reds, Lajong manager Singto feels The Mariners’ are still a tough nut to crack.

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“Without Sony Norde also they are a tough opponent,” the Lajong boss admitted to the reporters in the press conference. He also revealed that his current aim is to play a better brand of football than that of the previous season. “Our aim is to better our last season’s performance,” said Singto. The Lajong coach further revealed that he is not facing any injury concerns and is free to pick players from his squad, “We have no injury concerns and would look to step up against a top side. It should motivate the players even more.”

The Meghalaya-based team started with eight U-22 players against the star-studded Bengaluru FC in their previous game. With the lack of experience among the team, the Reds were forced to face a thrashing defeat in the hands of the Blues. Considering the fact, when Singto was asked about how his team was planning to fare against the Kolkata giants tomorrow he replied, “We are a young side with an aim of improving on our performance from last season.”