Australian star forward Jamie Maclaren was elated on scoring the decisive winner against Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant scripted history by becoming the second side to complete the ISL double and the first team to successfully defend the League Shield. The Mariners staged a roaring comeback against Bengaluru FC in the ISL final to win their second Cup title, being the first team to win the title on their home ground.

Despite the Blues opening the scoring and displaying a spirited first-half performance, MBSG stood firm to their strength and demonstrated another resilient performance on their home turf as Jason Cummings’ equalizer from the spot kick and Jamie Maclaren’s winner in the 96th minute sealed the victory for Jose Molina’s men. With that, the Spaniard has become only the second head coach after Antonio Lopez Habas (with ATK in 2014 and 2019-20) to win multiple ISL Cups.

After the ISL final, the player of the match, Maclaren, and captain Subhasish Bose were caught up with indiansuperleague.com, where they talked about MBSG’s ISL double and the Mariners’ champion mentality.

The match was tied in an intense situation where both teams were vying for the win in their quest for the coveted ISL Cup. However, Maclaren, the fox in the box, starred on the stage with the most important goal in the crunch moment with his clinical finish from a tough angle.

The MBSG star revealed that he kept believing in himself and was optimistic about finding the back of the net, capitalizing on every single chance that fell within his reach.

“I knew I was going to score. I had to stay patient; I had some chances, but the coach left me on, and in the end, he trusted me to lead the team and play catcher. This is my favourite goal for Mohun Bagan Super Giant,” Maclaren said.

Maclaren, who finished the 2024-25 season as the club’s highest scorer with 12 goals to his name, played a pivotal role in MBSG’s ISL double in his debut season with the Kolkata giants. He, along with teammates and their families, was seen soaking in every pulse of such a glorious moment.

“It's an amazing feeling. We said we were going to do it, and we did it. Now, we're just going to enjoy this moment,” Maclaren shared.

The Australian forward had words of praise for the opponent side, who fought hard till the end but fell short in winning the Cup. Maclaren acknowledged Bengaluru FC’s performance, saying,

“They're a great team, Bengaluru FC. Credit to them. They also had a wonderful season. They played very good football and took it all the way for us.”

“We believed till the end, and that's only what I can say,” he continued.

The Mariners were turned up in numbers, as there was a huge total of around sixty thousand (59,112) people in the stands, cheering for their beloved club and witnessing MBSG adding another feather to their trophy cabinet. The crowd erupted in ecstatic celebrations after MBSG accomplished the ISL double for the first time in club history.

Maclaren opined their fans’ continuous support and inspiring chants motivated them throughout the match. He applauded the Mariners for their unwavering support and opined it was crucial for the team to pump up with rejuvenated vigor and get the job done with a league double.

“We knew that we were going to be up against it, but at home, we're so strong, and our fans got behind us, and they got us over the line,” Maclaren remarked.

Winning Shield and Cup in the same season as a captain is very special: Subhasish Bose

Subhasish Bose was also seen in pure bliss and pleasure after guiding MBSG to the ISL Cup title against the Blues. The Bengali captain has been part of the Mariners’ Cup win in 2022-23 and the League Shield triumph in the 2023-24 season, and this season, he led MBSG, recording both.

Bose was privileged to represent his childhood dream and felt honored to lead the team to reach new heights. He highlighted team bonding and their inter-squad relations on and off the field behind their dominant performance throughout the season.

“It's not only me; the team gave their all, and that's why we can win the trophy and win the Shield for consecutive times. I'm very proud of our performance and attitude. It's very special for me to win as MBSG's captain. It was my childhood dream to play for MBSG, and I feel proud to lead the team,” he said.

“Team bonding is key to our success. Coach managed the dressing room very well, and I also tried to keep a positive atmosphere in the dressing room. Each player's contribution to the team and their attitude on the field and off the field help us achieve such success,” Bose continued.

The Mariners, who became the first team to defend the League Shield this season, edged out Bengaluru FC in the mega finale to clinch the ISL Cup title for the second time and complete an ISL double for the first time in the Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s history.

Bose took pride in leading such a wonderful side to win both the Shield and Cup in the same season and believed he would cherish such an illustrative moment in the coming days.

“Winning the Shield and the Cup in the same season as a captain is very special and memorable for me,” Bose signed off.

Related tags:

Mohun Bagan Super GiantBengaluru FC2024-2025 Jamie MacLarenSubhasish Bose