Super Cup 2025: Catala slams players' mentality after quarterfinal exit
Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) head coach David Catala criticised the mentality of his players after they succumbed to a 1-2 loss against a young Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) side in their Super Cup 2025 quarterfinal match at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
Former KBFC midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad scored the opening goal, while 20-year-old Suhail Bhat scored the eventual winner to send MBSG into the semifinal, where it will face FC Goa.
'I am disappointed because we had some expectations for this competition. We tried to change the mentality of the players, but I can see that some of them still have not changed,' Catala told the media at the post-match press conference.
ALSO READ | Mohun Bagan Super Giant youngsters pass Kerala Blasters test to book spot in last four
After a promising win against defending champion East Bengal in the round of 16, KBFC failed to match the quality and had a forgettable time in defence as well as in front of goal.
MBSG's young wingers, Salahudheen Adnan K and Ashique Kuruniyan, made light work of skipping past KBFC fullbacks Huidrom Naocha Singh and Hormipam Ruivah, respectively, before setting up the goals for their side.
'I thought that we were strong in defence, but then we ended up conceding two easy goals. We knew their strength and that they were going to attack us from the sides, but still we were very soft in the 1v1's and it ended up costing us the game,' Catala admitted.
In attack, Spanish striker Jesus Jimenez, who was the club's top scorer in the recently concluded Indian Super League season (11 goals), missed as many as three clear-cut chances in the second half.
He sent two close-range attempts off target in a span of three minutes before miscuing his shot into the opposition goalkeeper's gloves with the goal at his mercy, late in the game.
'We had a lot of chances to score, but we were not efficient enough. If you really are ready and concentrating 100 per cent, then we simply cannot miss these chances. Meanwhile, they (MBSG) created just two or three clear chances and scored two goals,' Catala said.
When asked if the absence of the injured Adrian Luna played a factor in the loss, Catala refused to make excuses and asserted that football is a team game, and it would not be fair to depend on just one player.
'We are a team, so it is not a matter of missing just one player. I think we were not strong enough to compete today, and this is something that we need to improve on for our upcoming season,' Catala concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Hong Kong could be Marquez's last match as India coach
Kolkata: Manolo Marquez will hope to keep India on track for an unprecedented third successive Asian Cup finals berth when they face hosts Hong Kong in Tuesday's qualifier, which could be his last match as head coach. A win would be the ideal way to end his short India stint but for that Marquez's men will have to do what no Indian team has since 1957 – win in Hong Kong. All four teams in Group C, from where only the winners will qualify to the 2027 Asian Cup, have one point following 0-0 draws. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced a bonus of $50,000 should India win at the stadium in Kai Tak Sports Park which will be inaugurated with this match. The last time the teams met in 2022, India won 4-0 in Kolkata. Appointed last August, Marquez continued as FC Goa and India head coach till May 31. From June 1 to May 31, 2026, Marquez is on contract only as India coach but has said he would not like to continue, according to officials at AIFF, Goa Football Association and FC Goa. The officials requested anonymity given the sensitive nature of the issue. Having won the Super Cup with them, Marquez is likely to continue as FC Goa coach. HT had reported this in its edition on May 6, 2025. India have won only one of their seven matches under Marquez, four of them including the qualifier against Bangladesh ending in draws. To prepare for the Hong Kong tie, India played Thailand last week and lost 0-2. Marquez, 56, did not want to make much of that saying on Monday that 'coaches are not worried about scores in friendly games'. India have trained nearly three weeks for this match. 'Our preparations have been much better this time, if we compare with the previous FIFA windows where you practically don't have too much time,' said Marquez, who won the Indian Super League cup with Hyderabad FC in 2021-22. In defence, Anwar Ali has recovered from fever leaving only Subhasish Bose unavailable due to injury. Under Ashley Westwood, the former Bengaluru FC, Punjab FC and ATK coach, Hong Kong prepared for this match with a 1-3 defeat against Manchester United and a 0-0 draw against Nepal. Hong Kong drew 0-0 against Singapore in their first match of the qualifying campaign. Unlike India, they have naturalised players born in Brazil, Spain and Japan.
India Today
9 hours ago
- India Today
Cristiano Ronaldo defends Lamine Yamal after Nations League win: Leave him alone
Cristiano Ronaldo came to the defence of Lamine Yamal after Portugal defeated Spain in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday, June 8. Ronaldo scored the equaliser in the final as Portugal pushed the European champions into a penalty shootout, where they beat them 5-3 after the game ended 2-2 in normal time. While Ronaldo had a great game, the same couldn't be said about Yamal, who struggled to find a cutting edge. The Portuguese superstar, who praised Yamal before the final, once again jumped to the defence of the young sensation. Speaking after the game, Ronaldo said that Yamal is going to win a lot of accolades going forward, both individually and for his teams. advertisementRonaldo went on to say that Yamal has a lot of scope for improvement, and he is a phenomenon who should be left alone. The Portuguese superstar feels that the Spanish youngster has a big career ahead of him and will win the Nations League multiple times in the future. "He's going to win a lot of titles, both collective and individual. He's only 17 years old... I repeat: he's a kid with a lot of room for improvement. He's a phenomenon, but we have to leave him alone, that's what I ask. He has a very long career ahead of him and will surely win the Nations League many times," said Ronaldo. Ronaldo also defended Luis de la Fuente and his decision to take of Yamal in the second half of extra time. The Portugal skipper said that De la Fuente knows what is best for the team and he made the call thinking it will help the side. "Your coach is a phenomenon. He knows better than I do—I'm not a coach—what the team needs. He's already won several titles with Spain. What more do you want me to say? If the coach made the decision, it was because he thought it was the best thing to improve his team," said Ronaldo.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Internet can't keep calm as Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to win the longest ever French Open final: ‘History made'
Social media was abuzz with emotion and admiration after Carlos Alcaraz scripted a sensational comeback to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner in the longest-ever French Open men's singles final, in Paris on Sunday night. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who saved three match points en route to his victory, secured his fifth Grand Slam title in a five-set thriller that lasted five hours and 29 minutes. Users across platforms praised Carlos' resilience, sportsmanship, and physical endurance, calling the match one of the greatest in modern tennis. Many highlighted the composure with which the Spaniard handled the pressure, especially as he clawed back from two sets down to eventually win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2). There was also an outpouring of support for Jannik, the 23-year-old Italian who came agonisingly close to victory. Social media users appreciated the intensity and spirit with which both players competed, making the final a showcase of high-calibre tennis. A large number of fans noted the historical parallels between Carlos and his idol Rafael Nadal. Carlos himself pointed out the 'coincidence' of winning his fifth Grand Slam at the same age Nadal did, calling it 'destiny.' "The coincidence of winning my fifth Grand Slam at the same age as Rafa Nadal, I'm going to say that's destiny. It is a stat that I'm going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspiration. It's a huge honour,' Carlos said of equalling Nadal's tally of five major titles at the same stage of their careers. The stat was widely shared and celebrated online, with many users viewing it as a symbolic passing of the torch in Spanish tennis. The record-breaking match went beyond the sport's usual following, with casual viewers and sports personalities also weighing in on the extraordinary quality of play. The dramatic swings in momentum, breathtaking rallies, and emotional post-match moments made it a perfect storm for viral attention.
