Mohun Bagan Super Giant assistant coach Clifford Miranda expressed satisfaction with his team's performance as they secured a comfortable 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC in Matchweek 10 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Friday.

After a dominating attacking display, the Mariners secured their sixth victory this season in dramatic fashion after going 1-0 down just four minutes into the game. Within the next 10 minutes, Mohun Bagan SG midfielder Deepak Tangri scored the equaliser, bringing the match back to level terms.

In the 28th minute of the match, Australian forward Jason Cummings found the back of the net, giving a deserved lead to the Mariners. Subhasish Bose extended the lead for them in the 71st minute, ensuring the continuity of their unbeaten run in ISL 2023-24. NorthEast United FC defender Tondonba Singh eventually succumbed to the pressure created by Mohun Bagan SG in the 54th minute and received his marching orders through a second yellow card, worsening the night for the Highlanders.

The assistant head coach is pleased with how his team responded to conceding such an early goal.

“We are very happy. We are very pleased in the way, not just because of the result, but also because of the manner (in which) we played and the reaction that we showed after conceding the goal,” stated Miranda in the post-match press conference.

The former Indian international further expressed his pride in seeing his side making the comeback and giving their best in terms of performance to replicate what they had planned on the training ground.

“The moment you concede a goal, it's normal for things to go haywire, for the players to lose their calm, and for the initial plan to go out of the window. But, credit to the players and credit to the mentality of the players, every one of them, to show the same character, not just in terms of mental strength, but in terms of also the tactical strength and the tactical way that we had to come into this game and then continue in the same way, how we had trained all week,” he added.

Mohun Bagan SG have experienced a barrage of injuries this season, which could have significantly harmed the team's performance. But the tactician is glad that his players have shown good character, which has helped the team navigate through these difficult times.

Miranda shared, “It's never nice when you have so many injuries, you know, and we have been particularly unlucky to have so many injuries. We, at one point in time, just a week ago, had 11 to 12 players injured, you know, right from Anwar (Ali) and Ashique (Kuruniyan) to long-term injuries. And after that, we didn't have a central midfield player, you know, so it's always a difficult period. But like I said we have a squad. Not just in terms of big players, but in terms of strong players with good character, and wanting to play for the team.”

Related tags:

Mohun Bagan Super Giant2023-2024 Clifford Miranda