East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat was satisfied with the energy the team put on in their goalless draw against Jamshedpur FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Monday. Both teams shared the spoils after they could not find the back of the net.
East Bengal FC dominated the possession with 56% and also took three shots on target, two more than the opposition. The Gold and Red Brigade created a few chances but the players could not finish them.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Spaniard said, “We are at the start of the season and there are a lot of things to develop but I am quite satisfied with the energy that the team have put in the pitch. We have created some really good chances.”
“I think we did what we can to get the three points, also some good places that (in which) we created the space. At the end we have to understand that there is also another team that came with a plan and tried to get a result.”
Meanwhile, the hosts were without the services of Lalchungnunga, who is on national duty in the Asian Games whereas Jordan Elsey is out of action due to a knee injury.
“We have to improvise the defense because we miss Jordan, we miss Lalchungnunga, so we have to prepare a new defense, not the same defense that have been playing in the Durand Cup.”
“I’m satisfied that we got the clean sheet and I think the players have to be positive for the next match,” he further said.
The Spaniard added football is a game of margins and things could have been different had they taken their chances.
“These things happen in football. You have to be there, in that situation. Things happen very fast. A lot of times it’s only some millimeters, centimeters that do not let you score”
Cuadrat also provided an update on Cleiton Silva, who is not fully fit.
“He’s getting ready. He arrived very late in the squad. He could only participate for a few minutes in the Durand Cup. Most of our players have played around 700 minutes and he is still at around 300 minutes,” Cuadrat said.
“It takes time to get fit. We have been playing in some friendly matches giving him a lot of minutes and he’s working well. He will be ready for the team. When we feel that it is the moment for him to start, he is going to start.”
East Bengal FC will next take on Hyderabad FC on Saturday at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.
