"This defeat will make us stronger": Bengaluru FC's Gerard Zaragoza

Bengaluru FC (BFC) head coach Gerard Zaragoza vowed to present a much stronger Bengaluru FC next season as his team lost 2-1 to Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) in the Indian Super League (ISL) Cup final on Saturday, as per the official website of ISL. Goals from Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren helped the Mohun Bagan Super Giant overturn a deficit in extra-time to win the ISL League and Cup double. However, the Spaniard believed that his team were better than the Mariners in all games played between the two sides this season.

"I want to congratulate Mohun Bagan Super Giant. They are a great team. The difference between them and other teams is that they have two teams. The changes that they make can make a difference," Zaragoza said after the match, as quoted from the official website of ISL.

"But I feel for the fourth time in a row this season, we were better than them. We had everything under control. The penalty changed the match. In extra-time, my team went down and they went up (in performance). It's normal. But congratulations to them. Mohun Bagan Super Giant deserve the season that they had," he added.

Looking ahead, Zaragoza has now set his sights on the upcoming Super Cup but also promised a stronger Bengaluru FC next season. "We will go for the Super Cup now. We want to win the Super Cup," he said. "This defeat will make us stronger. If this season was tough to play against Bengaluru FC, next season it will be tougher. Next season, be ready for Bengaluru FC," he added.

"Last season we lost 0-4 against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. One year later, we are in the final. That's Bengaluru FC. We know how to learn and bounce back. We have reached four finals in ten years. But we will again be in the final because we are Bengaluru FC," he continued. Looking back at the ISL season, Zaragoza was full of praise for his players. "This season, I feel we played the best football in India, in attack and in defence. It's not just me but it's what people say. Next year the aim will be to do even better," he concluded. (ANI)