Mohun Bagan Super Giant will begin the defense of the Indian Super League double title (league shield and cup) under new head coach Sergio Lobera, who expressed confidence in his squad ahead of the new season.
Speaking about the club’s opening match against Kerala Blasters on February 14, as per the provisional schedule announced by the All India Football Federation, Lobera said the team is ready despite the challenges of an extended pre-season caused by initial uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
«I know there were a lot of problems. It was a very difficult time for Indian football,» the Spaniard said. «Fortunately, we are now very close to the start of the season and we are very excited. The focus is on bringing maximum excitement to the first match.»
Lobera, who guided Mumbai City FC to the ISL title in 2021, acknowledged the difficulty in keeping players motivated over a long period without competitive matches.
“It is not easy to manage the situation with the players when there is no competition,” he said. «But I’m happy that the competition is finally here. I have had enough time to prepare the team as best as possible. The players are eager to show everyone that they are winners.»
Lobera took over from Spanish compatriot Jose Molina midway through last season and now faces the challenge of leading Mohun Bagan to yet another successful season.
Asked whether a curtailed tournament (the All India Football Federation plans to have just one round-robin match this season, with 14 teams in the lineup) would make it harder to defend the title, Lobera said a shorter competition leaves little room for error.
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«This is a different competition than previous seasons. The margin for error is much smaller. If you lose two or three games in a row, or even draw two or three games in a row, it can hurt a lot more than before. We have to be very careful with that, but that applies to all teams,» he said.
The Mohun Bagan SG coach also confirmed that injured right-back Asish Rai has been virtually ruled out for the season due to the severity of his injury.
As for the challenge of managing a side full of big names, Lobera said it was a welcome problem.
«It’s amazing – it’s actually a very good problem to have when you’re trying to pick the best starting XI. When you have 20 or 22 players performing at the highest level, that’s a very positive thing for me as a coach.»
«In my 25 years of experience, I believe that managing the group is the most important thing: managing egos. We can talk about tactics, technique or physical aspects, but ultimately football is about managing people,» he said.
«Football is a collective sport. Everyone is important, and that doesn’t just depend on the minutes you play. You have to contribute to the team and the group, and always be ready when the coach needs you.»
«After working with the players over the past two months, I can see not only their level as footballers, but also what they are like as professionals and as people. For me, that profile is even more important. Good players are everywhere, but good professionals and good people are not,» he added.
Published on February 5, 2026
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