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Mohun Bagan Super Giant midfielder Deepak Tangri highlighted the Kolkata giants’ rich legacy over the years and believed it was a dream come true for him to represent the Mariners.

Tangri joined MBSG in 2021, and he has been a crucial player for the club. He has featured in 66 Indian Super League (ISL) games and won two League Shields and two ISL Cups during his four-year stint with the club.

The 26-year-old, born in Punjab, began his football career at Chandigarh FA and then joined the MBSG youth academy. Tangri shed light on his journey from the youth setup to the senior team.

“Earlier, I was at the academy in Durgapur, and then we used to come to the MBSG ground. I’d look at the dressing room, the jerseys, and see the fans at the MBSG ground; it gave me this feeling that I wanted to play here as well.”

“I was at Chennaiyin FC, and when I got an offer from MBSG, my parents and I were happy. It was also my dream to wear that jersey and to represent it, because football has a whole different passion here (in Kolkata). MBSG are the best team in Indian football, the fans are the best, and the atmosphere is amazing,” he told MBSG TV.

Watch the full interview below:

From donning the green and maroon jersey to experiencing consistent success with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Tangri has experienced the ultimate high for a boyhood fan-turned professional, the highlight of which came last season when the Mariners did the double.

Jose Molina, took charge of the team ahead of the 2024-25 season and Tangri underscored how the Spaniard’s key tweaks made so much difference.

“Our coach has been a top-level player and coach, so he always tells us what's right and what's wrong. And when it comes to discipline, he always emphasises it,” he shared.

“During the preseason under the coach, we had really good training with the ball. There was a lot of improvement, especially in midfield, with more passing, through balls, and long balls. For that, the coach made all midfielders train on how to look back before receiving the ball and improve their vision and passing. That helped a lot throughout the season,” he added.

Tangri highlighted MBSG's strong bench strength and individual bonding between the players as a key factor in their historic double-winning 2024-25 campaign.

Speaking in context, the midfielder remarked:

“Even if some people are just sitting on the bench and others are playing, it’s all the same. Like, the coach knows if one player is out, someone else will step up and do the same job. That’s why we win trophies."

“Every player knows what to do and what not to do. Even if you get a card, you still have someone on the bench ready to play. That’s the best part about our team and the environment we have, both on and off the field, which is great. We just stay like brothers, and the vibe in the dressing room is always top-notch,” he added.

The midfielder also expressed his gratitude to the Mariners’ faithful who always stood by the team.

“Our fans, whether we're going through tough times or good times, are always there for us. They motivate us and are always cheering for us, doing everything for us, so that itself is a big motivation,” he said.

“We take that to heart and want to give something back to them, too, since the club shares such a strong bond with them. Those things matter a lot,” he signed off.