Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Juan Ferrando expressed happiness as they defeated Hyderabad FC 2-0 in Matchweek 8 of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Throughout the majority of the match, the Mariners unleashed a barrage of attacks through players like Sahal Abdul Samad, Kiyan Nassiri, and Jason Cummings. Despite their efforts, Hyderabad FC resiliently resisted conceding a lead. In the 85th minute, Mohun Bagan Super Giant defender Brendan Hamill broke the deadlock as he placed the ball in the bottom left corner of the net, scoring his first goal for the Kolkata-based football giants.

Following a plethora of yellow cards in the final 10 minutes of the match, Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s right-back Asish Rai sealed the match in the 96th minute, sending the ball past Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh, handing his former team their fifth loss of the season.

Discussing the challenge posed by Hyderabad FC, the head coach acknowledged the significant improvement in their performance over the last few games. Nevertheless, he emphasized that today, the Mariners deservedly secured the victory.

“It's a difficult match, we know. My opinion on Hyderabad, the last three matches, against Kerala Blasters FC, and also against Chennaiyin FC, they played better. They improved a lot of things. It's a difficult team, so I imagine the match for us was difficult because it's difficult to find the spaces. But okay, I'm so happy because at the end, in the second half, we were much, much better. We found the spaces and in the end, our chances were more clear and (we) won the match,” Ferrando stated in the post-match press conference.

After a disappointing outing against Odisha FC in the AFC Cup, Ferrando emphasizes that a team's reaction to the results matters the most.

“For us today, the most important is the reaction. You know, because when you lose one match (on Monday) and then on Saturday you have (to play) another match away in a difficult situation, (then) the most important (thing) is the reaction. Of course, in the first half, we were not fresh. This is the truth. We are not clearly in this with all, but in the second half we were much better,” he shared.

The Spanish tactician expressed concern regarding the return of Dimitri Petratos and Manvir Singh from injury. Ferrando feels that it's his responsibility to protect his players when they are injured.

“This is (on) medical staff. They are working a lot. They are trying to do their best day by day. It's difficult, the injuries, when Achilles injuries in muscles, it's very difficult to talk and tell you (what might happen) next Wednesday or next Thursday because maybe tomorrow they feel much better. Maybe if the scan results are positive, then on Wednesday (they) will be ready. Manvir was much better but when he joined the national team. I don't know what happened in this case. (He) came back with an injury and. Everybody knows about (the injuries of) Anwar (Ali), and Ashique (Kuruniyan). It's difficult,” he explained.

MBSG continue their unbeaten run with five wins in five matches, marking a perfect start to the season. The 42-year-old gives full credit to the players for this achievement and emphasizes its positive impact on their mentality.

“We won five matches. It's not so easy. It is because the players are doing a good job. It's incredible because all the matches we play for example away in Chennai and now for example today in Hyderabad it is difficult you know but for me, I'm happy when the team have the ambition to win the next matches. Our mentality (will be) to keep going and looking forward,” he concluded.

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Hyderabad FCMohun Bagan Super Giant2023-2024