Panos Dilmperis: “The Most Important Thing Is to Win” as Mohun Bagan Prepare for Odisha FC Test
Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis and defender Rahul Bheke addressed the media ahead of the Mariners' Indian Super League fixture against Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.
Panos began by acknowledging the need for greater concentration at the beginning of matches, particularly after Mohun Bagan had to come from behind in their recent victories.
He stressed that the team must start both halves with more aggression and focus, especially in home matches. According to the coach, an early goal could force opponents to move away from their compact defensive structure, creating more space for Mohun Bagan to attack!
Asked about the possibility of using two No.8's against Odisha's compact midfield, Panos appreciated the tactical observation but refused to reveal his plans ahead of the fixture.
With Mohun Bagan now at the top of the league table for the first time this season, the coach said the position would bring greater responsibility rather than simply confidence.
“Now we are there. And if we keep winning, we can stay there until the end!”
Injury Concerns and Maclaren's Return
Providing an update on the squad, Panos confirmed that Sahal Abdul Samad would be unavailable after suffering a knee injury. He also expressed his disappointment over the lack of protection for players against aggressive challenges, suggesting that stricter refereeing could help prevent injuries.
Apuia's availability remained uncertain, while Jamie Maclaren was returning to the squad. Miguel, meanwhile, was also unavailable.
Panos admitted that the team needs to improve its finishing - an issue that has been discussed repeatedly during training sessions. However, the limited number of days between matches has made it difficult to conduct high-intensity finishing drills with sufficient resistance.
He believes that confidence is also an important factor for some players and urged his footballers to remain relaxed and trust their abilities in front of goal.
“Everyone knows I am doing my best!”
Addressing the criticism surrounding his style of football despite the team's recent victories, Panos acknowledged that supporters and journalists have every right to express themselves. However, he insisted that he was giving everything to the club despite the challenges and his own mistakes.
“ According to the circumstances, everybody knows I am doing my best. I'm waking up at 7 o'clock in the morning and working until 12 at night for this team. For sure, I make 3000 mistakes before every game. This is my job, and I try to do my best and support the players.
But after winning three Champions Leagues, Zinedine Zidane was kicked out of Real Madrid in the fourth season. This is football. If they kick him out after three Champions Leagues, the most natural thing for me is to accept criticism when the performance is not good and when results aren't there!"
He also refused to look beyond the Odisha fixture, insisting that securing three points must remain the immediate priority rather than thinking about goal difference or upcoming matches against Churchill Brothers and East Bengal.
Rahul Bheke on Fitness and Defensive Partnerships
Defender Rahul Bheke spoke about maintaining his fitness despite a demanding schedule that has included the Calcutta Football League and IFA Shield alongside the ISL.
He credited the pre-season preparations under Panos and the club's strength and conditioning staff for helping him maintain his physical condition.
“After that, I played CFL and then IFA Shield. During those games, it was very important for me to keep maintaining myself rather than doing anything extra, because if I go for extra work, it might not help me and I might get injured,” Bheke explained.
The defender also praised his partnership with Alberto Rodríguez, describing him as a very professional player who helps not only him but also the other centre-backs and wing-backs.
He highlighted the collective understanding among the defensive unit, including Mehtab Singh, Subhasish Bose and Abhishek Singh, while emphasising the need to improve further to secure more clean sheets.
Asked about the importance of clean sheets, Bheke made his priorities clear!
“ As defenders, our first priority is to keep a clean sheet along with the goalkeeper. But the most important thing for us is winning the game, and second is keeping a clean sheet,” he said.
Panos Pays Tribute to Late Footballer Jesús Team Miguel
The press conference also took an emotional turn when Panos was asked about the tragic passing of footballer Jesús Team Miguel.
Expressing his sadness, the coach highlighted the importance of player safety and reminded everyone that football must never become more important than human life.
“Football is a priority, but life is the most valuable thing,” Panos said, extending his condolences to the family.
He also hoped that the incident would serve as a reminder to players and supporters around the world that football is a game meant to be enjoyed, not a reason for violence or injuries.
As Mohun Bagan prepare to face Odisha FC, Panos's message remains clear: improve concentration, make better use of scoring opportunities and, above all, secure the three points.
Follow MBFT on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp & Google News for Mohun Bagan and Indian football updates. Jai Hind Jai Bharat! Joy Mohun Bagan!
মোহনবাগান ও ভারতীয় ফুটবলের সমস্ত খবর পেতে MBFT-এর সঙ্গে থাকুন Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp এবং Google News-এ। জয় হিন্দ, জয় ভারত! জয় মোহনবাগান!
![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.mbft.in/2026/11/Pre-Match-PC-MBSGvOFC.html&media=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FRinCEkbcvULhUILYnRx-NIMHrDk9r-Gu61-Xgk93nR2M5_dWInb2vIxvx45qsC0ikF1UOUiOzm9FM84gVw7TjBJMj3qA5tq6fmn1mBVXog50u5W-cJ-DdJEcQILCkOb3uro7BePBPJlTQRd7K_jF5iJctEhHxKj5D6TZ8853FA0333z3hz5dI6o_Ss/s1600/thumbnail%20pic.jpeg&description=\"If we keep winning, we can stay at top of the table until the end!\", says Coach Panos | MBSG v OFC Post-Match Press Conference){kind=link}