The final time East Bengal visited the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, issues have been somewhat charged. It was the spring of 2017, and the then I-League table-topper handed defending champion Bengaluru FC a crushing 3-1 defeat, masterminded by an erstwhile crowd favorite within the Garden City, Robin Singh.
Five-and-a-half years since, issues are extra sedate. East Bengal is not the pressure it as soon as was, ending within the backside three the previous two seasons and presently tenth out of 11 Indian Super League (ISL) groups. BFC has fared a bit higher, with two consecutive mid-table finishes and now eighth. Robin is plying his commerce with Bangalore Super Division membership Sporting Club Bengaluru.
Friday night’s encounter can thus assist serve a twin objective — navigating this season’s troubled waters and serving a well mannered reminder of their erstwhile top-dog standing.
Both East Bengal and BFC come into the match having suffered back-to-back defeats. Their kinds of play have additionally not impressed a lot confidence. Stephen Constantine’s East Bengal performs largely rugged soccer, with elevated deal with counter-attacks and set-pieces.
BFC continues to be determining what works finest underneath Simon Grayson. The on and off presence of creator Javi Hernandez and the whole absence of striker Prince Ibara haven’t helped and the aspect has scored simply twice in 4 video games. But a fortnight’s hole because the final match would have helped the Englishman brainstorm.
“It has come at a very good time for us,” Grayson mentioned of the break. “Players have worked very hard on tactical and technical conditioning. We have had a lot of injuries and hopefully a lot more players will now be available.
“We have got a lot of players in the squad who can score goals and get assists. [But] we must have a more positive attitude and more belief in each individual. If you get a one-on-one situation, take somebody on. If you have got half a yard in the box, get a shot off. Do not pass it to someone else. Take more responsibility,” Grayson suggested.
Fighting spirit
Constantine, however, has harped on his wards’ combating spirit and can search for an lively efficiency at a stadium the place they’ve historically discovered help. There can be ahead Cleiton Silva, previously of BFC, whose knowledge he can faucet into. But starters in midfielder Alex Lima and defender Souvik Chakrabarti are largely out due to accidents.
“Have we been good in all of our games? No, we have not. And I don’t expect that we are going to be in fourth place for 20 ISL games,” mentioned Constantine. “We are new, we are fresh, and we are trying very hard to build the foundation of the future.
“One thing is that the team spirit is very good. Everybody looks after each other. I can’t ask for more. What we can do is make fewer mistakes and try and correct the mistakes,” the previous India coach added.
Source: www.thehindu.com