Bengaluru FC Between 'Football Machine' And A Maiden Double

Mohun Bagan are unbeaten at home this season but finals are won on resolve and not reputation

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: Gerard Zaragoza helping Jose Molina understand a question, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu clicking a selfie with Subhasish Bose. Four men on high chairs — Sandhu's size though made his look like a regular chair — occasionally sharing a laugh while taking questions. Camaraderie before competition? Old pros adept at masking pre-final nerves? Both would be correct.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant are in the Indian Super League (ISL) Cup final for the second consecutive season. This is Bengaluru FC's fourth final appearance.

Molina and Zaragoza have never lost one, Bose and Sandhu have played three of them, only Mohun Bagan's Manvir Singh has featured in more (4). They know this hinges on resolve, reputations don't matter.

For if it did, Bengaluru FC need not have bothered to show up. Mohun Bagan won the League Shield by a record eight points and with two rounds to spare.

They have not lost at home this term, not conceded in their last seven home matches in which they scored 13 goals. "A football machine," said Zaragoza referring to Mohun Bagan's 17 wins in the league, six more than Bengaluru FC.