KOLKATA: Juan Ferrando's Mohun Bagan SG kick off their Indian Super League title defence with a home match against newly-promoted Punjab FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, having already hit the ground running with promise and potency.
Hot on the heels of their Durand Cup triumph came a 4-0 rout of Odisha FC to start the AFC Cup group stage campaign and Ferrando's well-oiled machine already looks to be ready to hit top gear.
If the loss of Ashique Kuruniyan through an ACL injury appears to be the only notable setback in an otherwise nigh-perfect early season, Ferrando put on a brave face, calling for the "right mentality" from his players to rise to the occasion.
"ISL is not an easy tournament, everyone has to be ready and have the right mentality," Mohun Bagan's Spanish coach said in the pre-match press conference on Friday.
Only in last month, Mohun Bagan got the better of last season's I-League champions 2-0 on their way to winning the Durand Cup.
Mohun Bagan will again start favourites but Ferrando refused to take Saturday's opponents for granted.
"Punjab FC are a good team. The last season was an amazing season for them. The ISL for them is a big opportunity to start. It's important to be focused for the full 90 minutes because the opponents are not easy," Ferrando pointed out.
At the Kishore Bharati Stadium on August 7, Punjab defender Melroy Assisi's own goal and Kiran Limbu's poor goalkeeping allowing Hugo Boumous to score another set up Bagan's win in the Durand Cup.
Having become the first team to gain promotion in the ISL, Punjab FC now look to mark their ISL debut with something to cheer, putting the disappointment of that Durand Cup result behind.
"Both teams are better prepared than when we faced each other in the Durand Cup. I am fully confident, and all the players and staff are excited for the first match of ISL," Punjab FC coach Staikos Vergatis said.
Slovenian Luke Majcen, who helped Punjab FC win the I-League with 16 goals, will again spearhead their attack. In Colombian forward Wilmar Jordan Gil and Spanish midfielder Juan Mera, the visitors also have two more experienced foreigners hoping to take the contest back to Bagan's court.
