The supporters kept pushing us until the end: Odisha FC's Sergio Lobera
Lobera shared his thoughts following his side's 1-1 against the Mariners at home.
Odisha FC head coach Sergio Lobera praised the supporters for their unwavering vocal support as his team played out a 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan SG in the Indian Super League (ISL) at Kalinga Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts took the lead early in the fourth minute, with Hugo Boumous scoring from an indirect free-kick against his former club. However, the visiting side responded strongly and equalized through Manvir Singh in the 36th minute.
In the post-match press conference, Lobera gave an honest reflection of his team's performance.
“The players made an amazing effort, especially in the second half. In the first half, the transition was focused a lot on gaining possession of the ball, and we had to run a lot, which affected us in the second half,” he said.
Match Report: Odisha FC 1-1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant
“But in the second half, I think we were well-organized. In terms of defence, we didn't give them any space. I also think we didn’t concede many chances to the opposing team compared to other teams. I believe we’ve improved. Today, we faced a very strong team. We also had our chances, and I think we could have scored one more, but this is the result, and I feel the result is fine,” opined the Spaniard.
The spoils are shared.#OdishaFC #AmaTeamAmaGame #OFCMBSG #ISL pic.twitter.com/NOmVM8tlWv
— Odisha FC (@OdishaFC) November 10, 2024
The Kalinga Warriors remained in ninth place with nine points from eight matches. They are currently on a four-game unbeaten streak at home, following their loss to Chennaiyin FC in the opening fixture. This draw also extended their unbeaten record in home ISL encounters against the Mariners to four games.
Lobera effusively praised the home crowd, whose support never wavered and helped the team secure a valuable point.
“The supporters helped us a lot, pushing the players until the end. We were a little bit tired at the end of the game, but the supporters kept pushing us.”
“The players made an amazing effort, and I am very happy to be strong at home. We’ve only lost one game in two seasons. We need to keep working, and the most important thing is to make the people who come to the stadium happy,” Lobera commented.
