ISL 2023-24: We can change the score in Kolkata – Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Antonio Habas after first-leg semifinal loss against Odisha FC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s head coach Antonio Lopez Habas is hopeful of turning the tables in Kolkata after suffering a 2-1 loss in the first-leg semifinal against Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar on Tuesday.

Manvir Singh scored early for the Mariners to put the visitors in front in the third minute. However, the Kalinga Warriors was quick to bounce back as Carlos Delgado scored the equalizer in the 11th minute.

Former MBSG player Roy Krishna then scored against his ex-team as he gave a 2-1 lead to his side in the 39th minute.

Habas feels individual mistakes led to his team’s downfall.

“Too much individual mistakes, one individual mistake, another individual mistake, and another individual mistake. And this made it very difficult to organize the team collectively,” stated Habas at the post-match press conference.

“From the first minute, we were talking about the possibility of not relaxing. After the goal.. it’s normal (for the players to relax). But we want to compete in the semi-final, we wanted to put 100 percent. I think that we have the possibility to change the score in Kolkata and qualify for the final.”

Meanwhile, Krishna decided not to celebrate his goal against his former team as a mark of respect.

“He (Krishna) already was a fantastic player. And he’s now playing for Odisha FC. It’s normal. One good player on another team, it is possible that he will score. Roy Krishna, I respect absolutely how he works for Odisha FC,” he stated.

The Spaniard admitted that lack of collective show and too much distance between the lines were the main reasons for the loss.

“Today it was not a good match not only the defence, because, when the defense suffered it is because the quality of the team was not okay, not compact, too much distance between the lines. This was the problem today,” he commented.

He continued, “It’s not the mistake of one player. The collective behaviour was the problem.”

The second-leg semifinal between these two teams will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Sunday.