Coach Karim Bencharifa (from left), Aiborlang Khongjee and Sankar Oraon during Mohun Bagan's training session, on Tuesday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: McDowell Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa said last season was a learning experience for him.

“Oh! It was such a season. I learnt a lot from the last season. We did not have much of a success... And that’s something to worry about… As a coach, I would like my team to win trophies… We will give our best shot. Hopefully this time, fans will have something to cheer about,” Karim said at a media conference on Tuesday.

Bagan had a disastrous season when they were docked points and fined Rs 2 crore for refusing to come out to play the second half of the I-League match against East Bengal on December 9, 2012. They started from the bottom of the table and finished 10th.

The Moroccan also said their arch-rivals East Bengal are ahead on paper. “For the last few years they have managed to retain the team… So player-wise, they are in a better position… They also tasted some success… But then football is played on the field,” he said.

Bencharifa said captain Odafe Okolie would be arriving in the new few days. The Nigerian hasn’t arrived yet even though the team was practising for the past three weeks. “Yeah, he hasn’t been training with the team. But a rigorous schedule will see him up and running,” he said.

Bencharifa said he is planning to have a residential camp in August. “May be from August 7-8. It can be at Barasat, Kalyani or Durgapur.”

Bagan, at present, do not have a goalkeeping coach after Hemanta Dora left. “I have discussed it with the officials. That’s something we have to address as soon as possible.”

Bencharifa termed the rejigged Federation Cup home-away format a tricky one and said: “Let’s see how the clubs cope up, but it sounds tricky and we are looking forward to it.”

Bencharifa said he was in constant touch with his deputy Mridul Banerjee.

Busy with his AFC Pro Licence course in Mumbai, Bencharifa joined the side only on Monday and he said: “I always got feedbacks from the assistant coach and the players. We have had a good pre-season training. The players look in good shape. I am more than happy with the way Mridul went about his job.”