"It's in our hands. We need to win two games and we are going to become champions." - Coach Sergio Lobera speaks after a frustrating Inter Kashi draw

"It's in our hands. We need to win two games and we are going to become champions." - Coach Sergio Lobera

Mohun Bagan Super Giant played out a highly frustrating 0-0 draw against Inter Kashi, dropping crucial points at a critical juncture of the season. Despite dominating possession, the Mariners failed to break the deadlock, delivering a lackluster performance that leaves their championship aspirations hinging heavily on the remaining fixtures.

After the match, an evidently disappointed Coach Sergio Lobera faced the media in the Post-Match Press Conference.

When questioned about the team's inability to rectify recurring mistakes and whether he takes responsibility for the performance, the tactician did not shy away.

"Obviously, I take the responsibility. I am the coach, I have my responsibility, for sure. I am working with the team, and as a coach, you cannot come here after today's game and put excuses or to put balls out. I have my responsibility as a coach. Today was very disappointing for us, to get the result we expected. But the only thing we can do is continue working. I don't know another way than continue working and to be ready for the challenge we have ahead. Because finally, we have two games, and it's in our hands."

The Coach was particularly critical of his team's lack of intensity at the start of the match. Addressing the team's struggles against defensive blocks, he admitted:

"For me, it's clear: we need to score the chances we have. I think we had chances to score, but obviously, today, for example, in the first half, I think we lost 45 minutes. We lost 45 minutes because we need to do a little bit more, we need to work better, we need to be hungry. And in the second half, the team I think they showed another character and I think we played well in the second half. But we need to be more clinical when we had the chances."

He also took a moment to praise the opposition's resolve.

"And I want to congratulate also the opponent. Inter Kashi played today in a difficult situation, in a very sad situation, they showed everyone the professionalism they have. They competed at the highest level against us, and I want to congratulate them."

With Mohun Bagan Super Giant missing an opportunity to tighten their grip on the top spot, questions arose about the pressure mounting before the next game. Lobera described the mood but maintained a defiant outlook.

"It's not to put under pressure, no, because I don't think so. But obviously, the feelings are important in football, no? And today, the dressing room was... everyone is very disappointed, no? Because we lost a very good opportunity to be in a very good position, winning the next game here, and become champions, no? Then, this situation is not the same. But finally, today is difficult because it's disappointing as I told you before. But we need to try to tomorrow to be positive because finally, it's in our hands. We don't need to wait for nothing. We need to win the next two games and we are going to become champions. But obviously, we need to be in a good mood because we need to do the things better than today if we want to win the next games."

The starting lineup saw massive changes, with key midfield engines Apuia and Anirudh Thapa benched. Lobera clarified that this was entirely a medical decision.

"No, there are some situations. Today, from the medical staff, it was a big risk to use Apuia, and Apuia was not ready to play in this game, and this situation gave us the opportunity to use him against East Bengal. Thapa also, from the medical staff, was a big risk to use him, even we used him in the last minutes. But I don't think there are excuses, no? You can see the first eleven, and hopefully a lot of teams can use these players in the first eleven, no? Finally, we are playing with a very good first eleven, and obviously, I need to think we played one game two days ago, only one training session. We have three games in eight days, and you need to manage the loads also with the players avoiding injuries, and to have everyone fit for the remaining games. Because now it means if you are losing one player, you are losing one player for four games before the FC Goa game. Then, I think the most important thing for me is now, today, all of the players could be available for the next game, and I think this is also important."

When asked if the draw gave their upcoming derby rivals a psychological edge and about the players' body language, Lobera kept his focus narrow.

"Everyone when... everyone is disappointed, for sure the body language is like this, no? But I don't feel there are nothing not normal playing one game, and when the situation is not going on well, how you want it, no? And in terms of the next game, today I think the press conference is about the game we played, and maybe we are going to have the opportunity in the pre-match conference against East Bengal to speak more deep about these situations."

Further addressing the team's attacking struggles—having scored only 6 goals in their last 7 matches compared to 14 in their first 4—Lobera pointed to the final third.

"We need to create chances because finally, I think we had chances to score. The big problem is when you are not creating chances, no? But when you have chances and you cannot score, it's a big problem, no? Because finally we want to keep the possession of the ball, we want to play attacking football, but you need to be more clinical, you need to be practical, no? Finally, it doesn't matter if you got 90% possession of the ball if you are not more clinical in the last third. Also, it's difficult to play against teams who they have a lot of players in defensive positions to try to find the spaces, it is not easy. But I think in the second half, I can't complain, no? I think we tried everything, we had not too much but some chances to score, but finally, we didn't score."

Asked if this draw made the title run tougher, his message was unwavering.

"We need to do two games, we can become champions in the next game. Now it's in our hands. It's in our hands. We need to win two games and we are going to become champions. This is the mentality we have now in this moment. And as I told you before, it's very disappointing today, but we need to be positive because it's in our hands, depend on us. Winning the next two games, we are going to be champions. Then, we don't need to wait and to see another results. Depend on us."

Finally, acknowledging that a win would have put them in a better position heading into the Kolkata Derby, Lobera smiled wryly but quickly pivoted to the reality at hand.

"Yes, for sure. I approve the mathematics with a very good note! I know this, but now we are speaking in a different scenario. The scenario is we didn't win the game, and the scenario is different, no? But we need to adapt in this new scenario, no? Finally, it's very important to win the Derby. We need to win the Derby, for sure. Now and before. And I think it's very important to put the focus in the next one because we cannot change nothing about today's game."

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