Mohun Bagan Super Giants will travel to Jamshedpur, with nothing but a win in mind, in the first leg of the ISL semi-final against Jamshedpur FC on April 3. However, two of Mohun Bagan’s starting XI players — Manvir Singh and Apuia (Lalengmawia Ralte) — are doubtful for the match.
“They are trying to be fit, but they are still not at 100%. We will see in the last two training sessions whether they can make it to the playing XI or not,” Mohun Bagan head coach Jose Molina stated at the pre-match press conference.
Both players picked up injuries during the India camp in Shillong. Manvir returned to Kolkata even before the friendly against the Maldives and began rehabilitation under the supervision of Mohun Bagan’s medical staff. However, his absence from training sessions raises concerns about his availability. Molina has been preparing Sahal Abdul Samad as a possible replacement, as he was seen training with the probable starting XI in the right-wing position.
Apuia’s situation, on the other hand, brings Molina some relief. The midfielder rejoined the team for match-simulation training after nearly a week of recovery. He earned the Player of the Match award against Bangladesh in the AFC Cup qualifier in Shillong, but sustained an injury towards the end of the game.
Though Apuia has responded well to rehabilitation and recovered in time, Molina faces a dilemma. Should he risk him just after recovery or keep him fresh for the second leg? During Tuesday’s training session, Apuia was seen in deep conversation with the head coach and senior medical staff, likely discussing his fitness. If he doesn’t start, Deepak Tangri and Abhishek Suryavanshi are ready to step in.
Jamshedpur FC, who qualified for the semi-final after a dominant win over NorthEast United, will be eager to make the most of their home advantage before traveling to Kolkata for the second leg.
Mohun Bagan have not played a competitive match since March 8, when they faced FC Goa in their last league-stage fixture. However, Molina is confident that the long gap won’t affect his team’s confidence, as they have been focused and working hard in training.
“I don’t think Jamshedpur has an advantage just because they played a game recently. It has only been a few weeks without a match. Plus, some of our players were active with the national team and performed well there. Yes, we haven’t played since our match against Goa, but we’re ready. We used the break to rest, recover and prepare for the semi-final. Now, we have to prove it on the pitch,” said the Spaniard.
One player under the spotlight will be Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Despite leading the Golden Glove race in the ongoing ISL, Vishal had a forgettable outing against Bangladesh. Even though he kept a clean sheet, his performance was marred by three crucial errors that could have been costly. How he bounces back and delivers against Jamshedpur will be crucial. However, Molina has full faith in his shot-stopper.
“Mistakes are a part of football. They can happen to anyone. But I have no doubts about Vishal. I trust him completely and I’m sure he will have a great match against Jamshedpur,” Molina asserted.
The ISL Shield triumph is now in the past for Mohun Bagan as they set their sights on creating history by clinching the double. “We are happy with the Shield, but that’s in the past now. We want to win this one,” Molina emphasised.
“We have to forget about the Shield. Our focus is on winning the Cup,” echoed Greg Stewart, Mohun Bagan’s midfield lynchpin, determined to make his mark against his former team.
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