Kolkata Derby entirely different ball game: Mehtab Hossain

New Delhi, March 13: The experience of the Indian contingent in the newly-crowned I-League side Mohun Bagan, is what has made the difference for the Kolkata outfit in the ongoing season, feels former India international Mehtab Hossain.

Hossain, who was an integral part of the East Bengal set up for a decade, before playing for Mohun Bagan in his swansong season said: "Mohun Bagan are deservedly the champions of the Hero I-League. It's simply because they have played some really good and simple football.

"I understand many will feel that their Spanish players have made it possible. But let's not forget the Indian contingent that has performed brilliantly as well," Hossain said to i-league.org.

"The likes of Dhana (Dhanachandra Singh), Ashutosh Mehta, Debjit Majumdar, are all extremely experienced players, and know what it takes to win the league," he continued. "Even if you have good foreign players you need a bunch of calm and collective local players who would guide them, and that is exactly what has happened in the Bagan camp."

It was not exactly a smooth start to the season for the Mariners, as they finished runners-up in both the 2019 Calcutta Football League and in the 2019 Durand Cup. IANS

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