ISL 2023-24: The team was a lot superior in the first half – Antonio Habas after win against East Bengal FC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Habas was delighted after a 3-1 win against arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the 19th match week of the ongoing Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.

Habas feels his team was superior in the first half as they scored three goals in the first 45 minutes. Jason Cummings, Liston Colaco, and Dimitri Petratos all found the back of the net for the Mariners in the first half to give the team a 3-0 lead.

East Bengal FC pulled one back as Saul Crespo scored in the 53rd minute but it was not enough to stage any comeback.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant goalkeeper Vishal Kaith played a key role in the team’s success. Kaith saved a penalty in the first half and also saved three more attempts.

“Is it possible? To do magic (and turn the game around with one save)?” joked Habas in the post-match press conference.

He continued, “We have one goalkeeper (Vishal Kaith), a very good goalkeeper. And we have to use our boys. A save, one penalty save. And after that, the team was a lot superior, know that for 45 minutes. And after that maybe overconfident in the first minute.”

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant attempted 12 shots compared to East Bengal FC’s nine attempts.

Sharing his insights, Habas commented, “If you analyse the first half, maybe it was possible that you can think about the possibility to score more goals. But after the first 45 minutes, the scenery changed absolutely. And we had to defend. The idea was not to defend. We had to continue to press high, press the opponent. I don’t know what happened.”

“I understand we have to improve, evidently, because I am here, and we are training the team for 45 days, two months. It’s impossible to control everything,” he added.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will next take on Kerala Blaster FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi on 13th March.