Mohun Bagan Super Giant will look to grab its first win in the Indian Super League (ISL) when it hosts NorthEast United FC at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Monday.
This is the second successive home game for Mohun Bagan, which has, so far, struggled to find the form that fetched it the ISL Shield in the previous season. It squandered a two-goal lead against the ISL Cup winner Mumbai City FC in its first outing at the same venue in the opening fixture of the league on September 13.
A similar story happened in the Durand Cup final where Mohun Bagan slipped from a two-goal lead to a 2-2 draw in regulation by NorthEast United, which took the trophy by winning the penalty shootouts.
In the AFC Champion League Two, its winless run continued with a goalless draw with Tajik side FC Ravshan.
Eager to get over the jinx and avenge its Durand Cup final loss, the Mariners will hope to field its best side against a rejuvenated NorthEast United, which has made an encouraging start to the season. The Highlanders have continued their winning run after the Durand Cup with a 1-0 win over ISL-debutant Mohammedan Sporting.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant coach Jose Molina said his team needs to improve its defensive organisation.
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“We have to play better and defend better to win matches. Of course, at this moment I am upset with how things have gone so far. I am working every day with my players to avoid conceding goals. We have to focus on that, keep working, stay positive, and hopefully, in the next matches, we will play better,” he said.
NorthEast United’s coach Juan Pedro Benali also preferred to be cautious.
“Mohun Bagan didn’t have the best of results in the last few games. We are talking about a big club, a big team here. They will be eager to get over us and our job is to make it as difficult for them. The players are ready,” Benali said.
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