Mohun Bagan Super Giant currently lead the table in the ongoing ISL season, thanks in large part to their star recruit, Greg Stewart. Known for his visionary passes and game-changing skills, Stewart has quickly become a fan favourite among the green-and-maroon faithful. In an exclusive interview with RevSportz’s Editor-in-Chief, Boria Majumdar, Stewart opened up about his football journey, his affection for Mohun Bagan supporters, the derby, the ultimate aim for the season and more.
Boria: From 16 to 19, about to give up football, from then on to being hailed as one of the greatest players to play for Mohun Bagan. Tell Me about your journey?
Stewart: Yeah, it was, in the early stages of my career, it was a bit crazy. Lots of people saying no, but you have to just keep on fighting and that is what I did. I never gave up on my dreams and today to come to India, from all the experience I had playing in the UK, it has been great. I am so happy I came here and I am so happy to be at Mohun Bagan. I did not realise how big a club it was.
Of course, I played against them and I enjoyed it because I knew they had a big fan base but not as much as what I’ve seen. The first day I arrived at the airport was something I would not forget. All the fans were there to welcome me, it was such a touching feeling for myself. From there on, it has been just hard work and just trying to embrace it to be honest because it has been a really enjoyable time. We have a good group of players so we have fought hard so far.
Boria: This magical fandom when you step in, when you create an assist in a derby, when you set up that goal against Mohammedan Sporting, that goal against East Bengal and the 70,000 in that Salt Lake Stadium erupted, describe that to me.
Stewart: It is my job, that is what I do. First of all, I am a team player, I do not just think about myself. I am a big team player because if I fought for myself, I would play a sport just like you play on your own. But that is my job, that is why they brought me here, to create chances and get people off their seats. But as I say, it was a slow start at the beginning for everyone – new staff, some new players – but now we are starting to show what we can do as a team.
It has been so enjoyable so far but we still have a lot of time to go before we can celebrate something. But as you say, for me, my personal job is to come here and create chances, score goals, it is what I love doing. I actually love setting up goals more than scoring them so it has been good. Hopefully, long may it continue.
Boria: I remember that free kick absolutely lands on the head of Subhasish and he converts it and the celebration of the two of you, it kind of showed two young men celebrating really with passion and the bonding that there is in the team.
Stewart: That is what football is all about, it is just becoming together as a team. We are all there for each other, good times, and bad times. It is going to be a roller coaster, some parts of the season. I am sure of it because it is a difficult league. I really feel it is competitive this season, a lot of teams can beat each other. So, to go on a run of unbeaten games, now I think it is seven unbeaten at the moment, that is really difficult to do.
We hope to continue that because, as I say, the league is very competitive. But obviously, Subhasish been great for us at the back, leading as a captain and he has chipped in with some goals. I think he might be getting a new contract, I am hearing. I am wanting a percentage of this, but no, it has been good. Good group of boys and I am really happy. I wish I came earlier to be honest.
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Boria: One title with Jamshedpur, one with Mumbai, the third one, fingers crossed. No player has won the league shield with three clubs.
Stewart: It would be wonderful. When you come to a place that is not your home, you want to leave a legacy, you want to be remembered for something good, so hopefully I can do that this season.
Boria: A word on Molina as coach?
Stewart: He is a man of not many words. He knows what he wants from his team, we are tough to play against. Some days he can be hands-on and some days he can step back and let the coaches take the training. He knows what he wants from us and we know what we want to give him. So, it has been a good combination so far.
Boria: First three games, only four points, there was so much talk. But Molina was completely calm and he turned things around beautifully.
Stewart: That is football, it is not easy all the time. That is football, the pressure comes with that. Mohun Bagan, you have to win every game and that is part of it. I have been in teams before so I understand this. I am sure he has as well in his playing career. We have played with big teams; we know what it is like. We know the pressure of having to win every match. No matter the opponent, you have to go out there and get three points.
So, I think that is why he knew. By the experience he had before, and myself also and some other players in the team, we knew this. But as I say, when new players and coaches come together, it takes a little bit of time. It takes a bit of time and it is starting to pay off now. We have not won nothing yet, but you can see with the team performances, there is something there that we have worked on. We look like a team again.
Boria: Word on the derby, beating East Bengal?
Stewart: It was brilliant, it was so good. Once again, I did not realise how big a game it was. Turning up to the match, family there, it was massive. Even my family, my wife, kids, they loved it so much. They are looking forward to coming back because it is a game that was up there with one of the best games.
Boria: You have played around the world. How will you compare it?
Stewart: Honestly, it is up there. For me, it is one of the best. I think Jamie [Maclaren] said it is one of the best in Asia. For me, it is massive. Really such a good game. Both sets of fans there to support their teams, give 100% and luckily for us, we came out with the victory which made it even more enjoyable after. Matches like this, like the derby, are kind of special. You have that extra fire in the belly. You do not want to let them down because it is for them. This one game is for the fans. They support you every week, they come home and away. The away support we have had this season as well, I did not realise they would travel so far.
To get the win in the derby was massive. I remember when I first came, I think I went to the mall and that is all the fans would say. You must win the derby, you must win the derby. But I know this feeling because I have played in games – Celtic-Rangers, Aston Villa-Birmingham. I have played in these games before and it is massive for the fans. I know what it means for them. So, to get the win and then obviously we have another one on the 11th of January, which I am obviously excited about again. So hopefully, we can keep on going.
Boria: Tell me a little bit more about our Indian footballers, somebody like Manvir, Vishal Kaith?
Stewart: I have played with some really good Indian players. The first one that comes to my mind is Apuia. I played with him at Mumbai and he came to Mohun Bagan at the same time as me in the summer. For me, Apuia could go abroad. He could go play in Europe or he could go somewhere else and play. I really think he is that good. He is so mature for his age. I think he knows what he is doing, even without the ball. He is already proactive. He can see something happening. I think his game is just going to get stronger because he is still young. I feel he can still just keep on getting better.
He will be a big player for the national team as well for his whole career. I think he is the youngest player to reach 100 appearances. We have got such a strong Indian core. Manvir, Liston, Sahal, Thapa, Tangri, Subha, Vishal. We have got such a strong bond of Indian players that play at a high standard. I think they all play for the national team, which you can see. So, for us, the core of the team is Indians. They set us up to do well and what I have seen is the bond between international stars and Indian stars, the unity.
Boria: That is striking because I am sure an Apuia or a Thapa or a Sahal will learn from you, from your experience and that is what the ISL is about, that you learn the best practices from global stars and improve.
Stewart: Look, I can tell you all the things, but if you do not want to take it in, there is no point in me telling you. I can try and give you advice, but at the end of the day, it is up to you. If you want to become better, that is up to you. But I try my best to be the best teammate and try and give them some tips to improve. Whether that helps, I do not know. But as I say, I try and help them, of course. I want to see these boys go on and do better and do well for their career, make as much money as possible.
Boria: This whole fandom, the hype around you, do you feel pressure?
Stewart: I would say I put pressure on myself to show up for the game. I have always done that. I have always put pressure on myself to be the best version of me every time I step on the pitch. But I am an older player now. I love it. I love it. I love playing in front of the fans. I am not that young boy who is nervous. I was scared. I am not that guy now. I actually thrive off playing in front of these fans. I love it. Why would you not? Why would you play football? It is part of the game. If you do not have fans, football is not the same. So, for me, it is amazing just to play in front of these fans every week.
Boria: How are you backstage? What do you do? How do you unwind?
Stewart: We have a good group of foreigners this year. We are all kind of similar, British, Australian. We all understand each other’s banter, which is not a very good banter. But we all understand each other. So now, we will go out to the city, we go to the malls, we go to the cinema, go for some dinner, some restaurants. I am not a big film man.
I like watching football, sport. Drinking lots of coffee. Pretty boring, to be honest. Obviously, I miss family as well. They’re at home. They came for the derby. They were here for 10 days on the school holidays because my kids are at school at home. So, of course, it is difficult. You miss them. But when I came to India, everyone has been so lovely.
They have made it easy for me. It is not easy being away from the family. I love Indian food. At the beginning, it was too spicy. Just simple curry, like butter chicken and stuff like this. I love the naan bread. That is my favourite. I love naan. I do not have too many curries. I just stick to eggs and basic food.
Boria: What is the legacy that Greg Stewart wants to leave with Mohun Bagan?
Stewart: If I can make a young kid now who is on the streets watching me play football, if he wants to grow up and play in ISL and be like Greg Stewart. And he can do this. Just one person can do that. That makes me so happy. That is what football is all about. When you get to my age, I have got a young boy now, he loves football. And hopefully one day, he can play.
Boria: At practice, a lot of people come for photographs or autographs, and I have seen every time you standing there. It brings a smile on the face of those little kids. Describe that.
Stewart: That is crazy. Honestly, the number of fans that come to training every day. Of course, it is difficult to do every day. But I try to give my time back, even if it is five minutes, just to put a smile on someone’s face. It is not difficult. So, if I can do that, five, 10 minutes, no problem to me. I love it. It is amazing how they can come every day. I do not know what they do. They are there every day. It is amazing. It gives you a boost. It just shows you the support they have for you.
Boria: You have played across the world. Where will you put Mohun Bagan?
Stewart: I would say, top three at the moment, the way they have made me feel since I came. Since I landed, the day I landed at the airport, it has been so overwhelming, the support they have shown us. Not just me, the other foreign guys, and the new players. They have done the big tifo at the game. It was touching. It was so good.
Boria: What did that mean to you?
Stewart: It touched the heartstrings. When the family is away at home, and then you see this. It was top.
Boria: Your experience with Jude Bellingham, when you were at Birmingham City. How good was he and what was it like?
Stewart: He was just a young boy. He was only 15, 16. I think many teams were after him then. And then they let him train with the first team. And you could just see he had something about him. He would go in, put his foot in, no problem. He did not care who you were. He would put himself about. You could see he was quite tall, but he was quite skinny. He could get about the pitch really good. He had the big legs, but now he has filled out. Real Madrid – top, unbelievable. But you could see back then he had something. You can just tell when you see a football player, and he had everything. He had that fight as well which gives you that extra.
Boria: Any goals for this particular season?
Stewart: For every trophy we are in, we will go for it. The ISL shield, the playoff, every trophy we are going – 100 per cent, we are going for everything.
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