Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Jose Molina expressed his happiness after his team defended the League Shield title. The Mariners registered a 1-0 win against Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, Kolkata in the ongoing Indian Super League on Sunday.
When it seemed like both teams would share a point each, Dimitrios Petratos scored in the stoppage time to give all three points to the home team. Thus, the Australian also bagged the Player of the Match award.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant dominated the possession with 56.9% and took nine shots on target.
“Now, you know, I’m absolutely happy, absolutely amazing. Thank you very much. Maybe we suffered too much to score that goal because I think we deserved it,” Molina said in the post-match press conference, highlighting the pressure his team faced throughout the game.
“Football is that way, and in the last moment, we could score that goal. It was a great, great shoot. He deserved to score that goal. And I’m fully happy and absolutely grateful to everybody,” Molina added, acknowledging the efforts of Petratos, who scored the Shield-winning goal.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant have ticked the right boxes in the ongoing season and this was their 16th win of the edition.
“16 wins – It has been amazing. I’m really grateful to everybody and, of course, to the fans. Our goal is to make happy the fans. And I think today they are the happiest fans around the world. I’m happy for them and grateful for all the support they gave us from the beginning until the end.”
The gaffer credited the collective effort of the team for their success in the ongoing season.
“I say the same as everybody working in the same direction. The support of the owner and management is really important for the coach. The work of everybody—the coaching staff, the supporting staff—and, of course, the quality and the hard work of the players,” he said.
“To win a trophy, you need to be a team. It’s not only to have 11 players. We have to be a team, together. Everybody has to feel important inside the team,” he added.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next take on Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai on Saturday.