ISL: Mohun Bagan coach Jose Molina wary of resurgent Hyderabad FC

Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giant return to action after a ten-day break as they face Hyderabad FC in their second away-from-Kolkata match of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season at the Gachibowli Stadium on Wednesday.

Following consecutive home victories over city rivals Mohammedan Sporting (3-0) and East Bengal (2-0), Jose Molina's Mohun Bagan are fresh and eager to correct their away form anomaly.

Mohun Bagan's break from competitive games got longer after their AFC Cup match against Tractor was cancelled after the players refused to travel to Iran, resulting in a ban from the tournament.

“It is true that there is a bit of a gap between our last match and this one, due to the AFC trouble. The team is working very well, and I am sure we are well prepared for tomorrow’s match,” Molina told the media persons at the pre-match press conference at the Mohun Bagan Media Centre.

Although the Mariners head to Hyderabad as a recharged unit, the memory of their struggle in their last away game in Bengaluru remains fresh, with the club succumbing to a 0-3 defeat to Bengaluru FC.

Hyderabad FC, meanwhile, regained their footing with a decisive 4-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting in Kolkata, which will likely boost their confidence. And Molina is wary of the resurgent Hyderabad FC.

The Spanish coach is not taking any chances, acknowledging Hyderabad’s recent strong performance against Mohammedan Sporting. “Hyderabad had a really good match against Mohammedan. It is never easy to win an ISL match. We will have to work very hard during those 90 minutes to perform at our best and win the game,” Molina asserted.

Hyderabad’s first win of the season lifted them to 11th place on the ISL 2024-25 standings. Molina insists Mohun Bagan, currently third in the standings with ten points after five games, must avoid complacency and “work hard and fight a lot.”

“We know the challenges Hyderabad faced coming into this season," Molina said referring to the change in ownership of Hyderabad FC.

"Now, they are giving their best. On paper, we may be the favourites, but we need to put our best team on the field. They have national team players, and at the end of the day, it is 11 players versus 11. To win, we need to run, fight, and concentrate for 90 minutes,” stated the 54-year-old coach.

'Style will remain the same'

This match marks Mohun Bagan’s first away game since their loss to Bengaluru FC, yet Molina stressed that the location does not matter to him. “For me, all matches are the same,” he said.

“It does not matter where we play. We will go there as a team, play in our style, try to score as many goals as possible, and concede as few as possible. Whether in Kolkata, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru, we are ready to fight for 90 minutes," he maintained.

Molina also affirmed that he will not alter his possession-based approach, even against Thangboi Singto's Hyderabad FC, known for their direct and pressing style. “We have our style, and I do not want to change it. We’ll try to dominate as much as possible,” he stated.

'We will fight to win'

In Hyderabad’s recent win, Indian players Biaka Jongte, Muhammad Rafi, and Parag Shrivas played pivotal roles, while Allan de Souza Miranda scored a brace. Stefan Sapic and Parag also found the back of the net. Still, Molina expressed confidence in his team’s ability to counter Hyderabad’s newly gained form.

“We have to beat them, regardless of who plays for them tomorrow. Their Indian players are eager to prove themselves, but we will fight to win,” he said. “We will stick to our game plan. There is no special focus on any particular striker.”

Molina’s squad is fully fit, allowing him the flexibility to rotate players. However, he was noncommittal about the potential line-up for the match.

“I am not saying whether I will make changes or not. In football, they say not to break a winning team. I will do what is best for the team, aiming to field the strongest possible XI and keep up the winning streak,” Molina signed off.