Midfielder Fran Gonzalez wants Mohun Bagan to maintain their winning momentum when they host Gokulam Kerala FC in a crucial I-League match at the Kalyani Stadium on Monday.

“We all have the same target… As a team we will fight together and try to get three points from this match,” Gonzalez, who scored a brace in Bagan’s 4-0 win over I-League debutants TRAU FC, told The Telegraph on Sunday.

“I came here to lead the team, so that is something I always focus on. We have very good players who are also very nice guys. I try to motivate and help them by my experience,” he said.

Gonzalez is keen on emulating Spain’s ace footballer and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. “I love Sergio Ramos’s leadership. He always takes responsibilities when something goes wrong. I try to do the same for my team,” Gonzalez emphasised.

Not only did Gonzalez score in the previous game, he also contributed in the defence. The Spaniard generally plays in front of the four defenders in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

“I always try to do my best. For me, it’s a pleasure to help the team with goals because that’s what newspapers are going to show at the end of the day. But I do my best in defence as well,” he said.

Bagan, at present, have four points from three games. On the other hand, their opponents Kerala FC won both the matches they have played so far and bagged six points. In the last meeting between the two teams — the Durand Cup final at the Salt Lake Stadium — Kerala FC had beaten Bagan.

Gonzalez, though, doesn’t want to think about the past. “If we are able to make use of at least some of the chances we create every match, we will be at the top in the end. We just have to utilise our chances against Kerala FC,” he said.

Head coach Kibu Vicuna also feels the result of the Durand Cup final would not put any pressure whatsoever on his team.

“It is a different game on Monday. “That match was very even and we didn’t take advantage of the chances coming our way. We know that we have a tough game to play, but we are prepared for it.

“Our aim is to see we play well in order to collect full points from this game,” Vicuna said. Good news for Bagan is midfielder Joseba Beitia, who suffered muscle contraction and was taken off in the TRAU FC game, is fit to play. “He is absolutely fine,” Vicuna said.

Bagan defender Daneil Cyrus, however, sounded confident before the tough test. “My job is to protect the team from conceding a goal and I will try my level best to do that. I am ready to keep Kerala FC players at bay,” he said.

This will be Bagan’s penultimate match before the Derby against East Bengal, which is scheduled on December 22.

Kerala FC coach Fernando Varela, on the other hand, feels the game against Bagan would be competitive. “Bagan are a very competitive side with good players.”

Kerala FC will be missing the services of defender Andre Ettienne, who was sent off in the previous game.

• Kick-off: 5pm