xtraTime Web Desk

Mohun Bagan emerged victorious over East Bengal in the Durand Derby, but the post-match reactions from the two head coaches painted contrasting pictures.

East Bengal head coach Antonio López Habas expressed satisfaction with his team's performance despite the defeat, while Mohun Bagan's Greek coach Panos admitted he was pleased with the result but disappointed with his side's overall display.

After conceding the decisive goal, East Bengal piled relentless pressure on Mohun Bagan and created several clear-cut chances. Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Habas said:

"We created seven or eight chances, while they scored from just one. Unfortunately, we couldn't convert any of our opportunities."

Panos, however, felt his team controlled the match for the opening hour.

"For the first 60 minutes, we were the better side," he said.

He acknowledged that fatigue took its toll on his players in the latter stages, allowing East Bengal to dominate proceedings. Addressing criticism over Mohun Bagan's ultra-defensive approach towards the end of the match, Panos explained that his team's lack of proper pre-season preparation contributed to their physical decline.

He admitted there is significant room for improvement as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, Habas reserved special praise for his former player Vishal Kaith, whose outstanding goalkeeping performance proved decisive for Mohun Bagan.

"Vishal is the best goalkeeper. He was the difference today and denied us repeatedly."

Habas also voiced his frustration over the refereeing, although he stopped short of claiming his team deserved a penalty. He admitted he was too far away to judge that incident clearly but questioned why Mohun Bagan's Subhasish was not shown a red card.

Despite the derby defeat, Habas urged East Bengal supporters to remain patient.

"The season has only just begun. We've played only one match, so there's no reason to lose hope. There are many games ahead, including the ISL and the AFC competitions. This team will bounce back."

The Durand Cup itself is still in its early stages. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, meaning East Bengal still have every opportunity to recover and progress in the tournament.

And if both Kolkata giants continue their campaigns successfully, the prospect of another Kolkata Derby—this time in the final—remains very much alive.