ATK Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Habas believes his side has lost its identity as the Mariners played out a 3-3 draw against Bengaluru FC in Match 31 of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Thursday. 

ATK Mohun Bagan took the lead in the 13th minute through a powerful Subhasish Bose header. Five minutes later, a foul by Liston Colaco on Cleiton Silva handed Bengaluru FC a penalty. Silva scored the resulting spot-kick to level the scores, In the 26th minute, Danish Farooq Bhat netted his first goal of the Hero ISL to put BFC ahead but his strike was cancelled out by Hugo Boumous just before the half-time whistle.

Around the hour mark, ATKMB nudged into the lead after Roy Krishna slotted the ball from the penalty spot. However there was another twist in the tale, with Prince Ibara leaping and thundering a header past Amrinder Singh in the 72nd minute. Both teams pushed for the winner but were unable to score thereafter.

ATK Mohun Bagan are now sixth on the points table while Bengaluru FC are placed ninth.

Post ATK Mohun Bagan’s draw with Bengaluru FC, coach Habas addressed the media in the post match press conference.

Here are the excerpts from the press conference.

Do you think neither side deserved to lose tonight?

I think a draw is a fair result. I think neither team deserved the victory.

What was your reaction when you didn't see Sunil Chhetri in the starting eleven?

We had to play against Bengaluru FC not against Sunil.

Two points from possible twelve, obviously this a concern right?

We are in a bad moment. It’s clear. We don’t have an identity. We lost our Identity. We have to recover soon to have a chance to play in the playoff.

Last season ATKMB only conceded 15 goals in the league phase but this season your side has already conceded 13 goals. What do you think has gone wrong?

It’s never the same. Last season was last season. This season we have different players. The opposition has changed. We have to improve this season and forget the last.