Kolkata: Six matches into the Indian Tremendous League (ISL) season, Mohun Bagan Tremendous Large have toted up 22 bookings, probably the most. Two within the assist employees and midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte are one yellow card away from suspension.
Mohun Bagan chief coach Jose Molina. (HT Picture)
Ask Jose Molina if Mohun Bagan have a self-discipline drawback with 75% of league section remaining and, after saying he’s not fearful about it due to the depth in his squad, he paused. “I don’t know whether to say this is good or not but Mohun Bagan brought me here to win the ISL, not fair play trophy,” mentioned the pinnacle coach and former Spain worldwide.
It’s not as if he’s telling gamers to wade into opponents however referees’ choices should not one thing he can management, mentioned Molina.
Mohun Bagan lacking out on Asian Champions League 2 for refusing to journey to Iran for security causes too was one thing the 54-year-old former goalkeeper couldn’t management however that has not made coping with it simpler.
“Of course, I am not happy with the decision of AFC (Asian Football Confederation).” Like with yellow playing cards, the choice will be proper or fallacious however “we can say nothing.”
Molina mentioned taking part in in Asia was one of many causes he took the job in the summertime, his first project after being sporting director within the Spanish federation for the senior males’s facet to the under-15s.
“I wanted to prove that an Indian team can be strong in Asia but it will not be possible this time. Now, we have to forget ACL2, try to win ISL (league shield) and be at ACL2 next year. And then prove to everybody that an Indian club can be a strong team in an Asian tournament.”
It’s now for East Bengal to do this, within the AFC Problem League. It’s good for a rustic if its golf equipment do effectively in worldwide tournaments, mentioned Molina. On East Bengal that’s so far as he’ll go.
By now the palette of the dialog, it’s extra of that and fewer of an interview though it was taking place in Mohun Bagan’s media room on Tuesday, had grow to be different. It could be with somebody who has performed with Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid and with Lionel Scaloni at Deportivo La Coruna. Somebody who has received La Liga, Copa del Rey twice one in all them at Santiago Bernabeu and in opposition to Actual Madrid within the 12 months they turned 100 – each title together with ISL in 2016 and the treble in Hong Kong is as particular as a result of profitable is so tough, he mentioned – was a part of the Spain squad within the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 Euros and headed the pyramid of nationwide staff coaches that included Luis Enrique, Luis de la Fuente and Santi Denia.
On Molina’s watch, Spain received the under-19 and under-21 European championships and the silver within the Tokyo Olympics. His transient with Spain’s nationwide groups was to “update” the type that labored so effectively from 2008 to 2012. “Trying to be a little bit more direct and look for the players who could do that.” Tiki taka has not made approach for one thing else, it has advanced to the place it isn’t essential to play too many passes, he mentioned. An evolution tougher for Enrique than De La Fuente? Sure, mentioned Molina.
A powerful CV (189 matches for Atletico and 169 for Deportivo) didn’t translate into greater than 9 worldwide caps, after a debut as a left-winger as a result of all substitutions had been made. “It was still great because in that moment I became an international player,” mentioned Molina referring coach Javier Clemente giving him a run out in opposition to Norway in 1996. Molina’s ultimate worldwide too was in opposition to Norway, within the 2000 Euros. Spain misplaced 0-1 due to his mistake and Jose Antonio Camacho didn’t use him once more.
“I think I had the talent to play more matches for the national team but you have to respect the decision.”
Even when fleetingly, it was about the one time in 55 minutes of this interplay that Molina had lingered on the previous. “I live in the present and try to enjoy it. The only time that matters is now.” Full restoration from testicular most cancers, Molina mentioned, has influenced his worldview.
The current has been pleasing. Three wins and three clear sheets after an iffy begin has taken Mohun Bagan to 13 factors, three behind leaders Bengaluru FC who’ve performed a spherical extra.
Essential to that has been Greg Stewart’s creativity, Anirudh Thapa rediscovering his skill to be influential in and close to each containers, forwards and hitting type and the pairing of Tom Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez in central defence.
The 0-3 defeat to Bengaluru confirmed that we lacked steadiness, mentioned Molina. Since Aldred and Rodriguez began collectively in opposition to Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan have scored seven and conceded none.