Kolkata: One can approach the Durand Cup final from different perspectives and with varied objectives — collectively and individually.
Mohun Bagan SG — the defending champions and most successful team of Asia’s oldest football club tournament — are back on the hunt, starting favourites for good reason as they host NorthEast United FC in Saturday’s title-decider at the Salt Lake Stadium.
The ISL may be coming in a fortnight but it’s still early days of a new season and Jose Molina’s side has already shown that they have that survival gene to stay in contention. If goalkeeper Vishal Kaith emerged the protagonist in helping the team win two back-to-back knockout matches in penalty shootout, against Punjab FC and Bengaluru FC, it may also generate a belief that a team in sync with such luck and pluck has the stage set for something special at the end of the tournament.
This is also a wager Molina would like to win — not just to extend Bagan’s record reign in Durand Cup to title No. 18, but to validate his own position affirming that he’s the right man to take the team forward.
“It’s really good to play in front of your supporters but it’s not an advantage and on the pitch, it will always be 11-vs-11. So, there will be pressure as the home side but the players are experienced enough to live up to the challenge,” Molina remarked.
NEUFC too have their own ambitions, standing on the cusp of history. This is not going to be a normal game for them as they eye their maiden trophy since having come into being in Indian football as one of the ISL franchises 10 years ago.
A year ago at the same venue, they lost to East Bengal FC via a penalty shootout in the Durand Cup semifinal. They are ready to learn lessons from that defeat and make amends now.
“They (Mohun Bagan) are favourites, but we have not come here for holidaying. What will we do tomorrow? It’s easy on the board and it’s what we’ll do the pitch will determine the result. And what better way than facing Mohun Bagan to know where we stand now,” NEUFC’s present manager Juan Pedro Benali said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
In the likes of Dimitri Petratos, Jason Cummings and Greg Stewart, Bagan have the quality and firepower to singe any opponent. However, of the handful of truths that generally govern football as a sport, attack wins you a match but defence holds the key to winning a tournament.
The way Bagan conceded 4 goals in the two knockout matches may not have escape Benali’s notebook. NEUFC are defensively strong, conceding just 1 goal in 5 matches so far. Their tactical shifts, ability to play in phases and holding the fort in numbers when needed may present a stern test to Bagan’s ambitions.
Aware of having to play a catch-up game in the knockouts, both Molina and Stewart want the final to be decided in regulation time. ‘It’s a great opportunity to win our first trophy of the season. We’re excited to get it done,” Stewart said.
In their maiden meeting outside ISL, Bagan will have the crowd to back them in this mission. NEUFC, on the other hand, are expected to have a special supporter in the stands — their co-owner and Bollywood actor John Abraham. “We hope to give him a smile after the match,” Benali said, grinning.