Lee Erwin eyes a successful ISL campaign with Mohun Bagan after adapting to Indian football, as the Mariners prepare for two consecutive away fixtures.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant left Kolkata for Guwahati as they prepare to begin their 2026-27 Indian Super League campaign against NorthEast United FC on October 12. The Mariners will then travel to the national capital to face Sporting Club Delhi on October 16, with two away fixtures awaiting them at the start of the new season.

For Scottish forward Lee Erwin, the opening matches come after a period of adapting to Indian football, competing for his place in a star-studded squad and experiencing the expectations that come with wearing the Mohun Bagan jersey.

Since arriving in Kolkata, Erwin has been part of a team that has already experienced both the disappointment of a major final defeat and the satisfaction of lifting the historic Shield. Mohun Bagan won the Durand Cup opener against East Bengal FC, but their campaign ended with a 1-4 defeat to them in the final. The Mariners responded by defending their IFA Shield title, beating their archrivals 1-0 in the final on October 8, with Samir Zeljkovic scoring the decisive goal.

Speaking before the new season, Erwin made it clear that adapting to different surroundings, teammates and coaches is part of the job. Having played in different footballing environments, the striker believes that adjusting to a new culture and a new team is something players must embrace.

“It’s part of our job being able to adapt to different surroundings, different teams, different teammates, different coaches. And that’s what we’re here for. That’s what we enjoy doing and that’s what we do every day,” he said.

The Scottish forward also acknowledged the legacy associated with the club, with Greg Stewart having been part of Mohun Bagan’s double-winning success. Erwin expressed his hope of becoming part of a similar successful period under the current management and contributing to the club’s pursuit of more silverware.

“Yeah, I know Greg. I know the success he was part of here as well. Hopefully I’ll be part of a similar success and I’ll try my best each match and each day of training,” Erwin added.

Competition for a place in the starting eleven is another challenge at Mohun Bagan, where several established players are fighting for opportunities. With quality across the squad, Erwin understands that his place cannot be taken for granted and that consistency in training will be important throughout the season.

“At every cup there’s going to be competition, especially a cup like here. There’s some great quality in that squad. It’s just up to us to work hard every day and it’s up to the coach also to get the start on,” he explained.

The forward also pointed out that selection can depend on the opposition and the team’s requirements for a particular match. For him, the priority is to remain consistent and be ready whenever the coach calls upon him.

Mohun Bagan’s recent campaigns have offered a glimpse of that competition. The Durand Cup final defeat to East Bengal was a difficult result for the Mariners, but they had an opportunity to respond in the IFA Shield final. A narrow victory in the derby ensured that they retained the trophy and entered the new season with silverware.

Erwin also spoke about the atmosphere within the squad, describing how the players and staff have gradually built a stronger connection despite several players being away on national duty or having different commitments during the season. According to the striker, the atmosphere has been positive both during training and away from the pitch, with Indian and foreign players growing closer as a group.

“It’s good, you see it in training, everybody’s happy together,” he said, adding that the squad’s togetherness was also visible after the IFA Shield final.

With two trophies already secured, Erwin believes the team has a good platform to build on. The focus now shifts to maintaining that momentum in the ISL, where the demands will be different and the margin for error can be small.

The absence of Jamie Maclaren through injury has also brought questions about the responsibility on Erwin to deliver goals. However, the striker remained focused on his own role rather than placing the burden on himself alone.

“For me, I focus on trying to do my job. First and foremost, that’s the only thing I can control,” he said.

“Of course, that’s why I’m here, I want to try and score as much as I can. I think there’s a lot of quality in the squad that can get us those goals to win them.”

Mohun Bagan now face a demanding start away from home, beginning against NorthEast United before taking on SC Delhi four days later. For Erwin, the immediate task is to turn the promise shown in the cup competitions into performances in the league.

Already scoring two goals, and the trophies have provided a positive start to his time in Kolkata, but the ISL will be another test of how quickly he and the team can adapt. As the Mariners leave home for their opening fixtures, consistency, competition within the squad and Erwin’s contribution in attack will be among the key factors to watch.