East Bengal FC mengunci gelar juara Indian Super League (ISL) musim 2025-2026 untuk pertama kalinya setelah menundukkan Inter Kashi dengan skor 2-1 pada Kamis, 21 Mei 2026. Hasil laga pamungkas tanpa babak playoff ini membuat koleksi 26 poin East Bengal dari 13 pertandingan tidak dapat dikejar para pesaingnya.
Dilansir dari Sportstar, kesuksesan ini sekaligus mengakhiri puasa gelar liga kasta tertinggi selama 22 tahun bagi East Bengal dalam sejarah sepak bola pria. Kompetisi musim ini berjalan lebih singkat akibat keterlambatan jadwal mulai sehingga format tradisional liga penuh diterapkan tanpa adanya pertandingan final ISL Cup.
Sebelum rangkaian pertandingan penutup dimulai serentak pada pukul 19.30 waktu setempat, lima tim secara matematis masih berpeluang memperebutkan trofi juara. East Bengal memimpin klasemen akhir disusul Mohun Bagan, Punjab FC, Mumbai City FC, dan Jamshedpur FC yang gagal memanfaatkan momentum di pekan terakhir.
Berdasarkan laporan kilasberita.id, juara bertahan Mohun Bagan tertahan di posisi kedua setelah hanya kalah selisih gol di awal pekan, sementara Bengaluru FC mengakhiri musim di peringkat ketiga dengan 23 poin. Peluang FC Goa meraih gelar resmi tertutup setelah kalah 2-1 dari Kerala Blasters pada hari Senin.
Menjelang pertandingan penentu melawan Punjab FC di New Delhi, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC Petr Kratky menginstruksikan anak asuhnya untuk segera mengalihkan fokus dan menjaga kebugaran fisik demi menghadapi laga pamungkas tersebut.
"The main focus after the last game was recovery and regrouping because it has been a short turnaround for us after our previous away fixture. Now the attention is fully on our final game of the season and making sure the team is physically and mentally ready for the challenge," kata Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.
Kratky menyadari besarnya tekanan luar biasa yang dihadapi skuad asuhannya di laga penentu ini namun ia menilai situasi tersebut sebagai sebuah keuntungan bagi tim yang bersaing di papan atas klasemen.
"We know what is at stake and we know we need to win, so our focus is very clear. The team is motivated and ready to fight. Punjab FC are a strong side and the conditions will also be demanding, so we have to be fully prepared in every aspect if we want to get the result," ujar Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.
Kratky juga menambahkan bahwa tanggung jawab utamanya adalah memastikan kesiapan taktis para pemain karena sikap dan mentalitas di lapangan yang akan menentukan hasil akhir pertandingan.
"Pressure is a privilege for teams competing at the top because it means we are fighting for something important. My responsibility is to make sure the players are prepared physically, mentally, and tactically. At the end, it comes down to execution and attitude on matchday. The team that shows greater desire and mentality will give itself the best chance to win," ucap Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.
Selain itu, Kratky mengomentari kondisi cuaca panas di Delhi yang menjadi tantangan tambahan bagi timnya sebelum laga disiarkan di Sony Sports Network dan FanCode.
"We know what's at stake, we need to win and we have to prepare accordingly to that. So as I said, the team is ready, they want to fight and we will see what happens. Obviously we know Delhi will be very hot so we have to be extremely well prepared for the conditions and obviously Punjab is a very good team," kata Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.
Kratky mengakhiri pernyataannya dengan menegaskan bahwa pemenang laga ini akan mengambil seluruh keuntungan sehingga skuadnya dipastikan akan bekerja keras di atas lapangan.
"It's the last one. The winner takes all basically. So again, as I said, for me, we just have to fight. We just have to work and nothing to lose. Can't be anything left on the pitch," tutur Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.
Pernyataan senada mengenai motivasi tim juga disampaikan oleh gelandang Mumbai City Zothanpuia yang menyoroti perkembangan pribadi dan atmosfer positif di dalam skuad setelah mencetak gol perdana di ISL.
"Joining the club has been a huge learning experience for me. The coaches, staff, and teammates have supported me from day one and helped me improve both as a player and as a person. The team has prepared very well and everyone is focused on this game. The atmosphere within the group is very positive and we are ready to give our best and fight for the three points," kata Zothanpuia, Gelandang Mumbai City FC.
Zothanpuia menambahkan bahwa peran pelatih sangat krusial dalam membangun kepercayaan diri seluruh elemen tim melalui komunikasi yang baik untuk menjaga fokus pemain.
"Our coach has played an important role in building confidence within the team. He always trusts and supports the players and his communication helps us to stay," ujar Zothanpuia, Gelandang Mumbai City FC.
Di kubu lawan, Punjab FC mencatatkan lonjakan performa signifikan musim ini melalui ketajaman penyerang Nsungusi Effiong. Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC Panagiotis Dilmperis memilih mengalihkan tekanan dari para pemainnya dengan fokus pada proses laga daripada hitungan klasemen.
"Last day, a lot of teams, a lot of possibilities, a lot of scenarios that anyone can be champion. We try to approach this game like all the others. And I think that pushes the pressure away from the team," ucap Panagiotis Dilmperis, Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC.
Dilmperis juga mengungkapkan rasa cintanya terhadap tuntutan tinggi yang ada di klub barunya tersebut karena berada di klub besar berarti harus siap dengan target tertinggi.
"When I signed in this club, I knew how demanding this club is. I love this kind of demanding because finally it means you are in the biggest club in India. We cannot be happy finishing in the second position," kata Panagiotis Dilmperis, Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC.
Pemain sayap Punjab FC Ninthoi Meetei merefleksikan hubungan baiknya dengan sang pelatih meski harus menghadapi masa-masa sulit akibat cedera pada musim kompetisi kali ini.
"I must say that it's a really hard time going on for me and it's bad timing and very bad luck I must say. But I am not giving up from inside," tutur Ninthoi Meetei, Pemain Sayap Punjab FC.
Meetei menambahkan rasa puasnya dilatih oleh Dilmperis yang mampu meningkatkan kepercayaan dirinya untuk terus berkembang dan bekerja keras di lapangan.
"I know this year I am so satisfied with the coach. He gives me more confidence. I know I am going to work hard," ucap Ninthoi Meetei, Winger Punjab FC.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bengal | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 10 | 18 | 23 |
| 2 | Mohun Bagan | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 23 |
| 3 | Bengaluru | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 23 |
| 4 | Punjab | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 22 |
| 5 | Mumbai City | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 22 |
| 6 | Jamshedpur | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 21 |
| 7 | Goa | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | Kerala Blasters | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 17 |
| 9 | NorthEast United | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 21 | −5 | 16 |
| 10 | Inter Kashi | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 13 |
| 11 | Delhi | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 15 | −3 | 11 |
| 12 | Odisha | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 10 |
| 13 | Chennaiyin | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 21 | −12 | 9 |
| 14 | Mohammedan (R) | 13 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 32 | −25 | 3 |
