Defending Indian Super League double winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant are set to begin their new campaign under head coach Sergio Lobera, with the Spaniard expressing confidence in his squad despite an unusually long and uncertain pre-season.
Mohun Bagan SG are scheduled to open their title defence against Kerala Blasters on February 14, according to the tentative fixture list announced by the All India Football Federation. Speaking ahead of the opener, Lobera acknowledged the difficulties faced by Indian football in recent months but said the team is now fully focused on the season ahead.
“I know there were a lot of problems. It was a very difficult time for Indian football,” Lobera said. “Fortunately, now we are very close to the start of the season, and we are very excited. The focus is on bringing maximum excitement into the first game.”
The former Mumbai City FC coach, who led the club to the ISL title in 2021, admitted that keeping players motivated without competitive matches was a challenge during the extended pre-season.
“To manage the situation with the players when there is no competition is not easy,” he said. “But I am happy that the competition is finally happening. I had enough time to prepare the team in the best way possible. The players are eager to show everyone that they are winners.”
Lobera took over from fellow Spaniard Jose Molina midway through last season and now faces the task of guiding Mohun Bagan to another successful campaign. With the ISL expected to feature a shortened format of a single round-robin involving 14 teams, Lobera believes the margin for error will be minimal.
“This is a different competition compared to previous seasons. The margin for mistakes is much smaller,” he said. “If you lose two or three matches in a row, or even draw two or three consecutively, it can hurt you much more than before.”
The coach also confirmed that right-back Asish Rai is almost certainly ruled out for the season due to a serious injury.
Despite the challenges, Lobera welcomed the task of managing a squad filled with high-profile players, stressing the importance of unity and professionalism.
“In my 25 years of experience, the most important thing is managing the group — managing egos,” he said. “Football is a collective sport. Good players are everywhere, but good professionals and good people are not.”
With preparations complete and expectations high, Mohun Bagan SG enter the new season determined to prove they remain the team to beat in Indian football.
