East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon shared his disappointment after his team suffered a 2-3 loss against defending champions Mumbai City FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, Kolkata in the ongoing Indian Super League on Monday.
Chhangte and Nikolaos Karelis scored in the opening half to give a commanding 2-0 lead to the visitors. However, the Red and Gold Brigade bounced back as Panwar scored an own goal whereas Lalhlansanga equalized in the 83rd minute.
But Nikolaos Karelis scored his second goal of the night to give all three points to the Islanders.
“There were a lot of moments for both sides.. In the first half, we were completely exposed and Mumbai City FC were the best team on the pitch. And in the second half, it was the complete opposite. I think we deservedly came back and unfortunately, (for) one individual mistake, we lost again,” Bruzon said during the post-match press conference.
Bruzon showered praise on his team for their better show in the second half but reflected on the issues that led to their downfall.
“Going more deep, technically, I feel that we are suffering a lot in the central area of the pitch. We cannot control the midfield. On the right side today, we were having a lot of problems. They knew very well how to make the overlaps on that side. We were not having help from the full-back. Our full-back was not confident and then same problem as always, we have some problems in the backline. Other teams started to make a lot of ready moves and catch our backs. This is what happened in the first half.”
He added: “In the second half, spirited performance. We played more with the heart than with the mind. I think that we pushed and created enough chances to make a comeback and draw the game. But if you analyse the players we played, Cleiton (Silva) on the right, (Naorem) Mahesh and Hector (Yuste) in the centre.. We have a lot of problems, a lot of injuries.. We have problems to complete the eleven. We have problems doing the substitutions and we are trying to use players that don’t play in their natural positions because we are lacking key players.”
East Bengal FC will next take on derby rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, Kolkata on Saturday.
