Odisha to face Mohun Bagan on Thursday; Sahal is out, while MacLaren is likely to return to the squad
Panos believes that being at the top of the group comes with added responsibility. His team must remain alert right from the opening minute. Sahal Abdul Samad is doubtful for the match due to injury, but Jamie Maclaren is likely to feature.
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Mohun Bagan Super Giant will take on Odisha FC in the ISL on Thursday. Odisha are yet to register a win this season and are therefore being considered relatively easy opponents. Will Mohun Bagan look to boost their goal tally in this fixture? Head coach Panos, however, is not taking Odisha lightly. He is particularly wary of their midfield and is determined to secure all three points at any cost.
Panos believes that being at the top of the group comes with added responsibility. His team must remain alert right from the opening minute. Sahal Abdul Samad is doubtful for the match due to injury, but Jamie Maclaren is likely to feature.
Mohun Bagan's performances have come under criticism, with questions being raised about the team's inability to play consistently well. Responding to the criticism, Panos said that he works for the team from seven in the morning until midnight. Yet, criticism is inevitable. He cited the example of Real Madrid, who sacked their coach even after winning the championship for three consecutive seasons. "I could also be sacked. That's football," was the essence of his response.
Senior defender Rahul Bheke echoed his coach's concerns, admitting that wasting numerous goal-scoring opportunities has become a major problem for the team. The biggest challenge for Mohun Bagan is to convert those chances into goals.
Speaking about the importance of keeping clean sheets from a defender's perspective, Bheke maintained that the team's victory always comes first. Keeping a clean sheet is important, but securing all three points remains the ultimate priority.
