"If you keep getting three points, you don’t need to think about goal difference."-Sergio Lobera
HALF THE CROWD, SAME AMBITION: MOHUN BAGAN PREPARE FOR ODISHA CLASH
Holi arrived in Kolkata with its usual explosion of colour. The City of Joy was painted in vibrant shades on the auspicious occasion of the festival. Yet, amid the colours and celebration, a piece of news that surfaced last night had cast a different shade over Mohun Bagan supporters.What was expected to be another packed VYBK, will now unfold as only half of its usual crowd, after the AIFF imposed a sanction reducing ticket allocations due to supporters’ misconduct. The roaring chants of the Green-and-Maroon Faithfuls, the thunder of drums, and the sea of waving flags that usually turn the Salt Lake Stadium into a fortress will now echo through a stadium only partially filled, leaving many supporters outside its gates to cheer for their beloved club.
After much hue and cry followed the decision, Dr. Sanjiv Goenka stepped in to offer free tickets to supporters, and preparations for the match have continued as scheduled. Against this backdrop, the pre-match press conference was held, where head coach Sergio Lobera was joined by star defender Tom Aldred to address the media.
Despite the off-field turbulence surrounding the fixture, Lobera appeared calm and composed. Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on the task at hand and preparing the team in the best possible way.
Facing Odisha FC brings a personal layer for Lobera, given his stint with the club in the past. Yet the Spaniard made it clear that professionalism outweighs sentiment. “When you are playing against your former team it is always special because I have very good memories there,” he said, before quickly adding that personal feelings must be set aside once the match begins. Lobera warned that despite their limited foreign presence this season, Odisha remain a dangerous opponent! The coach knows several of their players very well from his time there and believes that their Indian core makes them highly competitive. “They have a very good starting eleven,” he noted. “Carlos Delgado is a good leader, and they have Indian players who move very well between the lines. We need to be careful.” Still, the Spaniard was quick to redirect attention back to Mohun Bagan’s own approach. For Lobera, the key lies not in overanalysing the opponent but in remaining loyal to the team’s identity. “The most important thing is to focus on ourselves,” he explained. “We need to continue improving and stay loyal to our style of play.” Questions were also raised regarding squad management, particularly after several changes were made to the starting eleven in the last match. Lobera appeared unfazed by the topic, emphasizing the strength and depth within the squad.
“When you have the amazing squad that we have, it is not only about rotations,” he said. “The players who start, the players on the bench, and those coming from the bench can decide a game. My job is to choose the best eleven to win.” Injury concerns surrounding Robson also surfaced during the interaction. The Brazilian forward had picked up a muscle injury in the previous match, prompting speculation about his availability. Lobera chose not to speculate too much, leaving the final word to the medical team. “The medical staff can explain the situation better,” he admitted, though he remained hopeful. “Hopefully he can be ready as soon as possible to help the team.” Another matter that surfaced during the interaction was Mohun Bagan’s position at the top of the table and whether the Odisha fixture could further extend their goal difference. Lobera, however, dismissed such speculation with characteristic clarity.
“I am not thinking about goal difference,” he said firmly. “I am thinking about getting three points. If you keep getting three points, you don’t need to think about goal difference.” The Spaniard also addressed the challenge of playing in the increasingly humid afternoon conditions. While he admitted that a later kick-off would naturally be preferable, he refused to use the weather as an excuse.
“If you ask me whether I prefer to play at 7:30, yes,” he said. “But this is the competition. We need to be ready and find solutions, not excuses.”
Perhaps the most telling remark came when Lobera spoke about the club’s mentality. Sitting at the top of the table may be encouraging, but the coach believes the season demands relentless focus. “It is not easy to win three games in a row,” he admitted. “But we are a champion club. When you are in champion clubs like Real Madrid or Barcelona, you think about winning every game. I am very happy with the team, not only with the results, but I also think we are on the right path. We can improve and we need to work on that. Our target is to keep this position until the end of the season.”
Following the coach, the Aussie defender Tom Aldred stepped forward to address the media.
The experienced defender, who scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Kerala Blasters in the season opener, spoke candidly about his current role within the squad. Despite not starting the opening matches, the 35-year-old remains focused on contributing whenever called upon. “Of course, every player wants to play,” Aldred said. “But at this club we have such a strong squad. My job is to train well, be a leader in the group, and when I get my chance, have a positive impact in the team.”
With over 500 professional appearances to his name, Aldred believes experience has taught him the importance of controlling what lies within a player’s reach. “When you’re 35 and you’ve played so many games, you understand what you need to do,” he said. “You control what you can control; training, attitude, and helping the team.” He also highlighted the internal competition within the squad as one of Mohun Bagan’s biggest strengths.
“The day players are not frustrated about not playing is the day they should stop playing football,” he remarked. “But that competition is what makes this team stronger.”
The conversation also touched upon the influence of Sergio Lobera since taking charge of the club. When asked to describe the Spaniard’s qualities as a coach, whether as a tactician, leader, or motivator, Aldred responded with a smile. “All of the above,” he said. “Since coming in, he’s certainly made his impact and we play his brand of football, which is important. The best thing I can say is that we’ve adapted as a team, as a group, quickly to it. So yes, leadership is one of the words you can use.”
Defensively, Aldred insisted that the team remains focused on maintaining its solidity despite occasional setbacks like the recently conceded set-piece goal. “Mohammedan scored from a set piece and yes, it’s frustrating to concede that way,” he admitted. “But I don’t see it as a concern. It just raises our awareness. Set pieces, both for and against, are very important, and it reminds us that we must keep working and never underestimate any opponent.”
As the press conference concluded and the players walked back to their preparations, the colours of Holi continued to fill the streets of Kolkata. And when the Mariners step onto the pitch at VYBK on Friday, it will be Green and Maroon above all!
The stadium may not be packed to its usual roaring capacity. The drums may not beat quite as loudly as they often do. Yet the belief of the 12th Man remains unchanged, because belief does not depend on numbers. And when the Mariners stand united, even half a VYBK can sound like a full one.
In this city, colours fade after Holi. But Green and Maroon were, are and will stay on forever!
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