Panagiotis Dilmperis urges Mohun Bagan to convert chances into goals as the Mariners prepare for their first home match of ISL 2026.
Kolkata, October 25: Mohun Bagan Super Giant have created enough chances to make their opponents uncomfortable. What they have not done consistently is make those chances count. When Chennaiyin FC arrive at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, that is the problem Panagiotis Dilmperis will want his team to put behind them.
The Mariners will play their first home match of the 2026 Indian Super League season at 7:30 PM, hoping to give their supporters something to celebrate after collecting a win and a defeat from their opening two outings. But for Panagiotis, possession and attacking intent will mean little unless they convert into goals.
The Mohun Bagan SG head coach did not hide his frustration with the team’s missed opportunities. Recalling their opening match, he pointed to the 26 attempts his side produced without scoring.
“When you do 26 attempts, you cannot have zero goals. You should have at least three or four goals,” he said at the pre-match press interaction.
It is a blunt assessment of where Mohun Bagan stand. Their attacking approach has created opportunities, but the final touch has been missing. Against Chennaiyin, the challenge will be to maintain that attacking threat without allowing wastefulness in front of goal to decide the outcome.
The break between matches has given the team time to work on more than finishing. He identified unforced errors in possession and the team’s response to counter-attacks as areas requiring attention. The coaching staff have also tried to increase the tempo, with the players responding positively during training.
Papagiotis, however, is not treating the home fixture as an opportunity to change his team’s identity. His principles remain the same, keep the ball, move into dangerous areas, create chances and protect their own goal. The presence of home supporters, he believes, can provide an additional push.
Team selection remains another talking point. Jamie Maclaren is working towards a return also joined the training in the match day minus one, Apuia had been unwell after the match against Sporting Club Delhi, and Miguel Figueira is troubled by a hamstring issue. The coach said their situations would be assessed before the final decisions were made.
Chennaiyin, meanwhile, will test Mohun Bagan’s ability to function as a unit, particularly in midfield. Dilmperis acknowledged the quality of their opponents and stressed that defending and attacking cannot be left to individual departments. If one area fails to do its job, he warned, the rest of the team can suffer.
For Anirudh Thapa, Sunday’s contest will bring him face to face with the club where his professional journey began. Before becoming a key figure for Mohun Bagan and the Indian national team, the midfielder developed at Chennaiyin FC, a chapter of his career he continues to value.
“Chennai, St. Stephen’s or anywhere I was, they have helped me grow,” Thapa said, acknowledging his former club’s contribution to his development. He also spoke of the demands of wearing the Green And Maroon colours, saying the club’s expectations leave little room for average performances.
His confidence has received a boost from India’s recent outing against Uruguay, where Thapa scored against a side he described as superior in quality. The experience, he said, has given him and his teammates greater belief.
Thapa also turned attention to the next generation of Indian footballers, arguing that promising youngsters need regular club appearances and greater exposure as they progress through the age groups. Good performances at junior level, he suggested, must be followed by opportunities to develop into senior players.
But Sunday’s immediate concern is much closer to home. Mohun Bagan have already shown they can create chances, now they must prove they can finish them. Against a Chennaiyin side familiar to Thapa and capable of competing in midfield, the Mariners’ first home night of the season could come down to a simple difference, who makes their opportunities count.
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