The Mohun Bagan Super Giant team had an incredibly exciting season in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-2024, which was packed with thrilling moments and twists and turns.

The season started with a bang which was followed by a surprising slump, which left many fans disappointed. However, the team managed to turn things around with a drastic change in personnel mid-season. This change brought fresh energy and momentum to the team, which helped them to put up some impressive performances.

Under the experienced guidance of Antonio Habas, the team hit their stride and went on to become the League Shield winners. They entered the Cup final in the best possible form, with a treble in their reach.

However, despite their impressive form and strong performances, the Mariners were unable to overcome their opponents, the current reigning ISL Cup winners, Mumbai City FC. The opposition outclassed and suppressed the Mariners throughout the game, applying constant pressure until the Mariners fizzled out to a 1-3 loss at home in front of a sold-out crowd.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Mohun Bagan Super Giant team can be proud of their incredible season, which was full of excitement and memorable moments. The team's resilience and determination throughout the season were truly remarkable and a testament to their skill and spirit.

Record 

Pl: 22 W: 15 D: 3 L: 4

The Mariners had a good season opener, with a convincing victory against the newcomers Punjab FC, scoring two goals and earning all three points. They then faced Mumbai City FC in a prequel to the finals and Shield frenzy, but unfortunately lost by one goal. 

In December, the team faced a defeat at home against FC Goa, with a three-goal margin, which was the biggest defeat of the season. However, the Mariners came out on top in the Kolkata derby, earning four points out of a possible six from both the fixtures. 

As the season progressed, the Mariners improved their form and only lost once out of 12 games since the start of the new year. They successfully clinched the ISL Shield of 2023-2024 by beating Mumbai City FC in the final fixture of the regular season. 

Despite entering the playoffs with a silverware, the team lost the first leg of the semi-finals to Odisha FC by one goal. However, the Mariners showed true determination by winning the second leg with a two-goal uncontested victory and advanced to the final against the Islanders. Unfortunately, they were not able to achieve their first ISL double and lost with a margin of two goals, which was their second-highest losing margin of the season.

Positives

Under the guidance of coach Habas, the team has undergone a mid-season transformation, displaying a positive evolution in their performance. This has helped them regain their winning ways and clinch this season's Shield, after defeating a tough opponent in the Islanders. With Habas's astute tactics and motivational skills, the team has been able to achieve a high level of consistency throughout the second half and dominate their opponents.

Moreover, the team's success can be attributed to the impressive performance of their two well-established goalscoring forwards, Dimitrios Petratos and Armando Sadiku. These two players have been instrumental in helping the team score the highest number of goals in the entire league. Their clinical finishing and attacking prowess have been a nightmare for opposition defenses, as they have consistently found the back of the net throughout the season. Jason Cummings was also instrumental as he showed when he scored in both title-deciding games against Mumbai City FC.

Overall, the team's success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, under the guidance of their coach and the leadership of their star players.

Negatives

Mohun Bagan SG had leaked points to all the top six teams in the points table. Despite having some promising performances. The playoffs brought a new challenge, where the team faced Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC. However, they failed to deliver when it mattered most, with only two players, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Jason Cummings, managing to score during the playoffs. This lack of goals from other players in the team proved to be the team's undoing, as they eventually suffered a defeat in the final.

Best Player

Dimitrios Petratos 

The Mariners have had a standout player this season in the form of a 31-year-old Australian. He has been an integral part of the team's success, with his contributions being nothing short of impressive. In terms of goals, he is tied with Jason Cummings as the top goal scorer for the team, having scored a total of 10 goals. However, his impact on the game extends far beyond just scoring goals. 

The player leads the team in terms of goal contributions, with a total of 17. This means that not only is he scoring goals, but he is also creating opportunities for his teammates to score. He has provided a whopping 60 goal-scoring chances, which is one of the highest stats on the team. This shows that he is not only a scorer but also a provider, making him a well-rounded player. 

This means that he has been consistently contributing to the team's success throughout the season. Overall, the Australian player has undoubtedly been the most important cog in the Mariners' system this season.

Best Young Player

Abhishek Suryavanshi 

The midfielder emerged as Habas' go-to man in midfield and overcame big competition for places in the area of the pitch to make 14 appearances for the team.

He formed a potent partnership with Joni Kauko that enabled Mohun Bagan SG to control proceedings in midfield. His presence allowed Kauko to Bombay forward and join in the attack at times giving the team a great balance. 

The 23-year-old is going to be an asset for the Mariners going into the future.

What do they need next season?

Mohun Bagan SG had a solid season and the need of the hour for the Mariners is continuity.

The most important thing for the Kolkata giants will be to retain majority of their squad that delivered the League Shield. 

The squad doesn't need any major additions and a few new signinings to keep the existing players on their toes will do the trick.

Mohun Bagan SG are well stacked in all areas of the pitch and their transfer strategy could well Hinge on which players leave.