Kolkata: Gerard Zaragoza serving to Jose Molina perceive a query, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu clicking a selfie with Subhasish Bose. 4 males on excessive chairs – Sandhu’s dimension although made his appear to be an everyday chair – sometimes sharing amusing whereas taking questions. Camaraderie earlier than competitors? Previous professionals adept at masking pre-final nerves? Each could be appropriate.
(L-R) Jose Molina, Subhasish Bose, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Gerard Zaragoza. (ISL)
Mohun Bagan Tremendous Big are within the Indian Tremendous League (ISL) cup remaining for the second consecutive season. That is Bengaluru FC’s fourth remaining look. Molina and Zaragoza have by no means misplaced one, Bose and Sandhu have performed three of them, solely Mohun Bagan’s Manvir Singh has featured in additional (4) . They know this hinges on resolve, reputations don’t matter.
For if it did, Bengaluru FC needn’t have bothered to point out up. Mohun Bagan received the league protect by a report eight factors and with two rounds to spare. They haven’t misplaced at house this time period, not conceded of their final seven house matches through which they scored 13 targets. “A football machine,” stated Zaragoza referring to Mohun Bagan’s 17 wins within the league, six greater than Bengaluru FC.
The perfect staff wins the league was how Sandhu assessed his opponents. That stated, Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan 3-0 at house and are among the many three groups which have defeated them this time period. And it took a late screamer from Liston Colaco to subdue Bengaluru FC within the reverse fixture. Their Durand Cup fixture stretched to penalties after Bengaluru FC blew a 2-0 lead. They’ve a slew of India gamers and foreigners snug in ISL. And so they have Sunil Chhetri.
An assistant-coach in 2018-19 when Bengaluru FC received ISL, Zaragoza started his first full ISL season with 5 wins and 5 clear sheets. The high-fliers then fell with a thud in what Zaragoza, 43, had termed as “fatal January”. Bengaluru received nothing within the first month of 2025 shedding 4.
Precisely a yr to Friday, Zaragoza stated, that they had misplaced 0-4 to Mohun Bagan and completed tenth in ISL. In 2022-23, after two wins of their first 9 rounds, Bengaluru FC received their subsequent 13, together with one which Kerala Blasters forfeited, en path to the ultimate. Triumph and catastrophe, they’re nicely versed in. Turnarounds too. “Tomorrow, we will also play for the fans and the people at the club who trusted us,” stated Zaragoza.
After February started with a loss at house to Punjab FC, Bengaluru FC have been unbeaten of their subsequent eight matches successful six together with 5-0 in opposition to final yr’s cup winners Mumbai Metropolis FC within the play-off. “We are in the mood for the final,” stated Zaragoza.
One which will probably be performed in Mohun Bagan’s jungle, in accordance with the media convention emcee. Tickets have been bought out inside hours and social media handles of Mohun Bagan’s fan golf equipment are stuffed with photos of individuals queuing as much as redeem them ignoring solar and rain. “They are lucky to play at home but they earned their luck. That is what I want at my club,” stated Zaragoza.
Sandhu is aware of all about it, having performed the second match of his skilled profession at Salt Lake stadium, its loyalties break up down the center, heaving with practically 100,000 individuals. “I was lucky to be thrown into the fire early. It has moulded me,” stated Sandhu of his time at East Bengal. “We want to be involved in such games. It provides extra motivation,” stated the goalkeeper.
Molina stated he and his gamers don’t want any of that. “Mohun Bagan are always expected to win so the motivation is anyway high.” Add to that the prospect of a primary ISL double and “it is impossible to be more motivated.”
By I-League and ISL, Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan have, over time, served up last-round encounters that had late targets, comebacks, penalties and the tie-breakers. One other humdinger please.