Bengaluru FC controlled the ball better: Mohun Bagan SG’s Jose Molina

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina admitted Bengaluru FC controlled the ball better than them after their 3-0 loss in the Indian Super League at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. 

Edgar Mendez scored in the ninth minute of the game to put the Blues in front. Suresh Singh then doubled the team’s lead after 11 minutes to give a comprehensive lead to his team.

Six minutes into the second half, veteran Sunil Chhetri scored from the spot kick, to become the highest goalscorer in the ISL history. The home team had 54.6% possession and took nine shots on target. Furthermore, the hosts had a passing accuracy of 81%. Molina said his team made a poor start after conceding two goals in the first 20 minutes.

“We didn’t start well and they had the chance to take advantage of that. They scored two goals and then I tried to find solutions,” he said during the post-match press conference.  

“We were unlucky with the Sahal injury, who was our first choice. We were trying to add more offensive power and have more control of the ball. But they did it better than us. It’s absolutely clear. It was a bad match for us, but we have to keep working,” he added. 

The Mainers have conceded a total of seven goals in the three matches they have played so far in the season whereas they have netted five. 

“We are conceding too many goals. That’s clear. Some of the goals we are conceding due to mistakes at the back but most goals that we are conceding are due to mistakes in attack. To improve in defence, we need to improve in attack as the better we can attack, the better we will defend,” he analysed. 

“We are a team that is not comfortable when we don’t have the ball. I think today they won because they controlled the ball and had more chances. We had some chances but our finishing was absolutely poor. With the level of strikers we have, this can’t happen,” he added. 

Molina said they fought till the end despite the heavy loss against the Blues.

“You always look to take the positive things. But today it is not easy. We fought till the very end and it’s one of the positive things. We want to thank all the fans for coming out today and we want to say sorry,” he concluded. 

The Mariners’s next assignment is a tough away trip in the AFC Champions League 2 as they travel to Iran to take on Tractor SC on Wednesday before returning to ISL action on Saturday with a big Kolkata derby against Mohammedan SC. 

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next take on Mohammedan SC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on October 5.