Need to win ISL and be in ACL2 to make up for this year, says Molina

KOLKATA: Six matches into the Indian Super League (ISL) season, Mohun Bagan Super Giant have toted up 22 bookings, the most.

- Dhiman Sarkar

Two in the support staff and midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte are one yellow card away from suspension.

Ask Jose Molina if Mohun Bagan have a discipline problem with 75% of the league phase remaining and, after saying he is not worried about it because of the depth in his squad, he paused. "I don't know whether to say this is good or not but Mohun Bagan brought me here to win the ISL, not fair play trophy," said the head coach and former Spain international.

It is not as if he is telling players to wade into opponents but referees' decisions are not something he can control, said Molina.

Mohun Bagan missing out on Asian Champions League 2 for refusing to travel to Iran for safety reasons was something the 54-year-old former goalkeeper could not control but that has not made dealing with it easier.

"Of course, I am not happy with the decision of AFC (Asian Football Confederation)." Like with yellow cards, the decision can be right or wrong but "we can say nothing."

Molina said playing in Asia was one of the reasons he took the job in the summer, his first assignment after being sporting director in the Spanish federation for the senior men's side to the under-15s.