Mohun Bagan Super Giant etched their name in Indian Super League (ISL) history by securing back-to-back League Shields with a narrow yet monumental 1-0 victory over Odisha FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.

Head coach Jose Molina, who steered the Mariners to their second consecutive League Shield win, shared his joy, gratitude, and tactical insights during the post-match press conference.

The winning strike came from Dimitrios Petratos, whose goal in the 93rd minute of stoppage time sealed the title for Mohun Bagan SG. Petratos’s clinical finish broke the deadlock and cemented MBSG’s place at the top of the table, securing their 16th victory and stretching their streak of six consecutive clean sheets this season.

Molina began by expressing his immense joy after clinching the title.

"Now, you know, I'm absolutely happy, absolutely amazing. Thank you very much. Maybe we suffered too much to score that goal because I think we deserved it," he said, highlighting the pressure his team faced throughout the game.

Odisha FC, who were chasing a Playoff spot, put up an immensely resolute defence throughout the game to thwart the numerous attacking attempts from the home side. Despite the challenges, the late winner in stoppage time brought sheer relief.

"Football is that way, and in the last moment, we could score that goal. It was a great, great shoot. He deserved to score that goal. And I'm fully happy and absolutely grateful to everybody," Molina added, acknowledging the efforts of Petratos, who scored the Shield-winning goal.

With the title secured and two matches remaining, Molina reflected on the team's outstanding season. The coach acknowledged the passionate supporters who had stood by the Mariners from the start of the season.

"16 wins - It has been amazing. I'm really grateful to everybody and, of course, to the fans. Our goal is to make happy the fans. And I think today they are the happiest fans around the world. I'm happy for them and grateful for all the support they gave us from the beginning until the end."

When asked about the secret to his success, Molina pointed to unity as the defining factor.

"I say the same as everybody working in the same direction. The support of the owner and management is really important for the coach. The work of everybody—the coaching staff, the supporting staff—and, of course, the quality and the hard work of the players," he said.

"To win a trophy, you need to be a team. It's not only to have 11 players. We have to be a team, together. Everybody has to feel important inside the team," he added.

The pressure to win the League Shield was immense, but Molina saw it in a different light, drawing confidence from the passionate home crowd, who turned up in huge numbers.

"Extra pressure today? No. It has been the best moment of the season. We were in our stadium, in front of our fans, trying to win the match, to win the season. It's perfect," he explained.

With two matches still to play, Molina emphasized that his team’s focus remained unwavering. They are also determined to chase the ISL Cup and complete the double, having narrowly missed out on it last season.

"We are trying to win the two matches remaining in the season. And even to prepare for the (ISL) Cup because we cannot think the season is finished. We still have a semi-final, hopefully, a final, and maybe even a Super Cup later," he concluded.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will travel to face Mumbai City FC in their penultimate league-stage game on March 1.

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant2024-2025 Jose Francisco Molina