ISL – Have come to India to challenge myself: Mohun Bagan SG’s Tom Aldred

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s new signing Tom Aldred has said he has come to India to challenge himself. Aldred became the third overseas player after Jason Cummings and Dimitri Petratos for MBSG in the off-season. The 33-year-old central defender has the experience of playing in England, Scotland and Australia and he would look to deliver his best for the Kolkata giants by making the most of it.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant won the opening game of the Durand Cup 2024 against Downtown Heroes FC by 1-0 and Tom Aldred played a key role as a leader.

Tom Aldred was delighted with the win and he is looking forward to the next match against the Indian Air Force Football team.

“It was good to put on the shirt and represent the club so quickly and get a positive result. We are more prepared now, having been with the team for 10 days, two weeks. So definitely I’m more prepared and ready for this game (against the Indian Air Force FT) than I was for the last. I’m feeling fit, strong, and ready to go,” he said in a press conference.

Speaking on the development of the Indian Super League, the Englishman reckons the league is growing by leaps and bounds and the players are also rising through the ranks.

“The ISL is a league that’s growing. There are some very good players here. Many talented foreign players have moved to the league. From what I’ve seen so far at Mohun Bagan SG, the Indian players are a very good group. In fact, I have had conversations with some of the (foreign) players about how Indian players could play in Europe. I feel their levels are very good,” Aldred revealed.

​​Discussing his decision to join the ISL, Aldred said: “Why I came here is to challenge myself. This will be the fourth country I will be playing in now. As a player you want to challenge yourself and get to a stage in your career where you’ve done it in multiple countries. I’ve done it in England, Scotland, Australia, now India which is the next challenge for me. I’m at that stage where I feel strong, ready and excited for the ISL and the challenges that have to come at the biggest club in Mohun Bagan SG for me.”