Kolkata : After the IFA Shield 2026 final Derby loss, the ‘old Habas’ returned! As if in a flashback, the Spaniard took us back 12 years ago.
According to the rules of the press conference after the match, the defeated coach or player usually comes first. But even after a long wait, Antonio Habas did not come.
It took quite some time to hand over the shield to Mohun Bagan. After receiving the shield from West Bengal Sports Minister Indranil Khan, huge celebrations took place on the field by Mohun Bagan players along with their families. A photo session took place. Then Panagiotis Dilmperis came directly to the press conference.
But everyone waited for Havas. At the end of the Mohun Bagan coach Panos press conference, it was announced that Habas would not come. In other words, the press conference was boycotted by the East Bengal coach.
A month and a half ago, the same incident happened in Yuva Bharati during Durand Cup 2026 final. However, it was not Habas, but Panos who did the same ahead of post match press conference that day. After the humiliating 4-1 defeat, he left the stadium and immediately got on the bus. He sat in the first seat of the bus with a serious face. Habas chose the path of Mohun Bagan coach that day. He left the field without facing the journalists.
This version Habas is not a complete stranger. Twelve years ago, in 2014, Habas was the coach of Atletico de Kolkata in the debut year of the ISL. At that time, he was known as a temperamental coach on the field. The team’s footballers feared him.
In that match against FC Goa, Habas was handed a two-match suspension and fined following a highly publicized altercation with FC Goa’s marquee player Robert Pires. This forced him into the stands and out of mandatory match-day media commitments.
His friendly behavior with journalists was far from endearing, and he often ignored them. But the veteran coach changed with the times. When he returned to Kolkata in the second and third innings, Habas was found to be much softer-natured.
A glimpse of the angry Habas from earlier was seen on Thursday night. Coaches losing their temper on the sidelines is not new, it happens often. Habas lost his temper several times during the match days previously and yesterday too.
At the break yesterday, he suddenly entered the field. He got into an argument with the referee. He was dragged off the field by one of the East Bengal players. After that, Habas was seen standing on the sidelines several times during the match and getting angry at the footballers. Even during Mohun Bagan’s goal, the East Bengal coach claimed a foul from outside the field. Although he did not come to the press conference, it is clear that Habas is not happy with the refereeing.
It is not known whether that is why he boycotted the press conference. However, the veteran coach does not have much time. He will have to quickly get over the hangover of the loss in the Shield final and return to the AFC international stage.
Previously too, during ATK tenure, his fiery behavior and relationship with match organizers frequently dominated headlines. Even when he did attend press conferences, Habas heavily criticized the officiating, famously stating through his translator that his team was suffering from systemic refereeing bias. And the same old version of him is seemingly returning.
