All posts tagged: Antonio Habas

Mohun Bagan SG, the champions of India

Published by Webster

For the favourites, winning is a necessity but for Mohun Bagan and their fans, winning is obligatory. So when one of India’s biggest clubs finished the 2022-23 season third on the table coupled with just the League Cup, earning themselves a slot at the AFC Cup, expectations were high, but the demand for an even better season next time around stood greater. Greater demands were met by greater inputs and investment. Bagan were active in the transfer market, with a keen eye on exceptional Indian talent and top-tier foreign players. While they had to let go of their long-time servant Pritam Kotal, McHugh and the likes of Tiri and Kauko among others; the Kolkata giants made up for it by bringing in some of India’s finest in Thapa, Sahal and Anwar Ali. Several foreigners boasting an impressive CV such as Jason Cummings and Armando Sadiku followed suit. Bagan’s season started with the Durand Cup, which proved to be the perfect season trailer the fans could have asked for. After winning the opening two group games, …

How did Mumbai City FC shattered Mohun Bagan’s treble dreams

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In India, finals are always fiery. And when two of India’s best football clubs vie for supremacy in a do-or-die game at the hallowed grail of Kolkata, the outcome is never going to be disappointing. The Indian Super League season 10’s final, therefore, was no exception. And with a diverse set of narratives setting the tone, the scene was set for yet another potential ISL classic – the fourth installment of Mohun Bagan SG v Mumbai City FC. A change in personnel Habas made two changes to the that had previously beaten Mumbai City FC – Jason Cummings came in for the suspended Armando Sadiku and Deepak Tangri replaced Abishek Suryavanshi in the line-up. Meanwhile, Petr altered his cards as well. A foreign center-back pairing of Tiri and Krouma was played even as Bheke moved to right-back and Mehtab Singh filled in at left-back for the injured Akash Mishra. Apuia took the lone pivot role, replacing the suspended van Nieff with Jayesh Rane coming into the line-up. And Vikram Partap Singh came in for Bipin …

‘The future stars of Indian football play in the Reliance Foundation Development League’

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The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) 2024 has reached a pivotal moment as the Regional Qualifiers conclude, paving the way for an intense National Group Stage. This will take place across the four centres, i.e. Mumbai, Kozhikode, Delhi, and Goa from April 12-26 with 20 teams from eight zones, the stage is set for a thrilling display of talent and skill. Five teams are slotted in each group and they will battle it out across 40 games to make it to the National Championships that will host four clubs. Indian Super League coaches, including Antonio Habas, Head Coach of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, have emphasized the crucial role played by RFDL in shaping the future of Indian football. Habas highlighted the league’s impact on the scouting network, underscoring the importance of investing in youth development initiatives like RFDL. “Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is very important because we need the academy and the young players for our first team. We need to invest in these projects, as the foundations of the game are important for …

“I know how important it is to win the Kolkata derby, it can swing different ways across 90 minutes”

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Antonio Lopez Habas knows that a high-octane clash like the Kolkata Derby involves different dynamics, emotions, pressure and hence swings ways across 90 minutes. Both teams presumably will have their own periods of dominance during the clash, and the side that will hold their composure until the end will walk away with the three points. “We are a very competitive team. Sometimes, in the derby, the game starts in one way and ends someway else. We have to do well, as per our plan, and not worry about the score,” he said, as the Mariners prepare to take on East Bengal FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on February 3 at 7:30 p.m. “I know how important it is to win the Kolkata Derby” Assessing East Bengal FC, Habas appreciates the winning mentality infused within them by tactician Carles Cuadrat, who also secured runners-up finish for the team in the Durand Cup earlier. He understands that their rivals wear a different look this time around, and a lot of …