Mohun Bagan SG registered a comeback win against Odisha FC in the semi-final 1 of the Indian Super League (ISL) to qualify for the final for the second consecutive time, which will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on May 4.

Despite suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat against the Kalinga Warriors in Bhubaneswar in the opening leg, the Mariners came back stronger in the second leg on their home ground, showcasing resilience and persistence in front of their thousands of passionate home supporters.

Habas’ men, who were adorned with the League Shield a couple of weeks ago, will be determined to defend the ISL Cup against Mumbai City FC. It is going to be an action replay of the final league stage match where the Mariners saw off the Islanders by a 2-1 scoreline to win their first-ever League Shield by reaching the summit of the points table.

After the high-voltage match, Mohun Bagan SG's foreigners opened up to indiansuperleague.com, where they shared their thoughts on winning the semi-final, their aim for the upcoming final, and more.

We are going for the treble: Jason Cummings

 

The Aussie forward has proved his worth by scoring goals during difficult moments including strikes against Mumbai City FC in the League Shield decider and the goal to give his side a first-half lead in the semi-final against Odisha FC.

Cummings expressed his delight with the way his team is performing throughout the season and shared that Mohun Bagan SG could complete the domestic treble by clinching the ISL Cup. Notably, the Mariners have already marked their triumph in the Durand Cup and won the ISL League Shield in the 2023–24 season.

"Yes, of course, we believe we can win (the ISL Cup). We are having a good season; we are going for the treble. The confidence is very high at this moment. We just need to go back to training and get ready for the final. We’ll give everything," Cummings told indiansuperleague.com.

The Mariners delivered standout performances consistently, demonstrating their never-say-die attitude and indomitable fighting spirit, which guided them to overcome difficulties several times during the ISL 2023–24 season.

"It’s massive. When you go out with that mentality, it’s huge. We are going to every game knowing that we’ll win. That’s the feeling we have. The winning mentality is massive," he commented.

It has been seen that whenever Habas' men take on the pitch in Kolkata, the fans turn out in large numbers to support their home team. Cummings expressed his delight at the fan support and emphasized the significance of having such a supportive crowd behind them.

"Yes, it’s amazing. Throughout the season, the supporters have been incredible. They helped us, and we can feel the energy on the pitch. They are the best fans in India this season, for sure," he stated.

"They have helped us all the season, so thanks to our fans, and their support has been the key to our success," he added.

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan will be the venue for the final and Cummings feels it is an advantage for his team to play in front of their home crowd in the final match.

"It’ll be a massive advantage, as you see," he said.

"At home, we are an amazing team, especially with these fans behind us. It has been a big advantage for us to be at home. Whoever comes to the final, we’re ready," he signed off.

We want the trophy: Dimitri Petratos

 

Mohun Bagan SG's offensive stalwart and one of their most impactful performers in recent days, Dimitrios Petratos, is fully focused on winning the ISL Cup and has his eyes fixed on winning the final game on May 4.

"We want the trophy; that’s what we are fighting for. We won (against Odisha FC), and we have just one more game to play. So, we’ll regroup and recover, and the focus is on the next game now," Petratos said.

The Aussie forward believed their utmost grit and determination were pivotal to their turnaround in the second leg of the semi-final. Speaking in context, Petratos remarked,

“It was just one game. We stayed focused, and we knew that we had to win the game, and that’s what we did. We came out and played, stuck together to our game plan, and got the result.”

Petratos remained humble and conveyed his gratitude to the Almighty for his excellent performances throughout the season.

“Without God, this is nothing. I am nothing without God. I want to thank God first, and of course, my family, friends, and our fans. Everybody is a part of this big family,” he commented.

While playing at home, the Mariners have enjoyed impeccable support from the home support, who have been showering unwavering support over the matches. Petratos heaped praise on their fans’ efforts and mentioned that it’s a privilege for a footballer to perform in front of such a crowd.

“Every time we are playing here (in Kolkata), there are sixty thousand supporters; it’s amazing. The feeling and the energy that they bring give us extra motivation. This is absolutely amazing. From a young age, we all have a dream to play in front of fans like these, make them happy, and give them joy,” he acknowledged.

We’ll put everything in the final: Joni Kauko

 

Mohun Bagan SG’s midfield mainstay, Joni Kauko, aligned with his teammates, sharing that they would leave no stone unturned in defeating the Islanders in the high-pressure final match.

“The goal is, of course, to win (the final), that’s for sure,” he said.

“It’s been a long season for all the boys; We won the League Shield, we won the Durand Cup, and we’ll put everything in the final,” he added.

It’s the first time Kolkata is going to host the ISL final in league history. Kauko expressed his pleasure by saying that playing a title decider match in front of thousands of supporters would give them extra motivation and unparalleled energy to bring out their best performance.

“That’s going to be a big advantage for us. What an atmosphere it was. Unbelievable. Thanks to all the fans who came. It gives us power; everyone feels good when the fans cheer for us. I hope in the final there will be a lot of people,” he commented.

We’ll go with more power in the final: Armando Sadiku

 

The Albanian forward missed the second leg due to his suspension and will be unavailable for the final as well. Despite his absence, Sadiku commended his team’s performance and opined that they would target none but the ISL Cup in the forthcoming title decider fixture.

“We’re very happy. We have a strong team. We showed it; we made a comeback (against Odisha FC). We’re very happy. We’ll go with more power in the final, and we’ll win,” Sadiku stated.

Related tags:

Mohun Bagan Super Giant2023-2024 Armando Durim SadikuJoni KaukoJason Steven CummingsDimitrios Petratos