As East Bengal FC prepare to take on Odisha FC in a crucial Indian Super League (ISL) fixture, both coaches and players expressed optimism about their chances in the pre-match press conference.
East Bengal FC, led by head coach Oscar Bruzon, will be looking to bounce back from a series of disappointing results, while Odisha FC’s coach Sergio Lobera is focused on maintaining his side’s momentum in front of their passionate fan base.
Oscar Bruzon: Confidence in Turning Things Around
East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon acknowledged the team’s recent struggles but emphasized that his squad is ready to change their fortunes.
“It’s true that in the last games, it seems that the game plan of our opponents is always successful. But from now on, we are fully confident to try to change our tendency, our last bad results. I hope that from tomorrow, we can find the reaction that we need,” Bruzon stated.
He highlighted the challenge of adapting to a new style of play, but noted that his players are slowly coming to terms with his tactics.
“The ideas of the former coach and the ideas of the new coach are, I would say, radically different. I think that the players are slowly understanding what we need,” he explained.
Bruzon also focused on key tactical elements that the team will need to improve on to be more competitive against Odisha FC.
“We need to understand where to shape, where to find the triggers to activate the full team pressure, to be more intense, to win duels, to win second balls. Especially for the defending transitions, we need to have less space between our lines, and finally, provoke situations that come in our favor,” he added.
Bruzon expressed confidence in his knowledge of Odisha FC, pointing out that their strong backbone is driven by talented foreign players.
“It’s a good advantage for us that I get to know the strong points of Odisha FC. I watched their evolution from the beginning of the season, and there are not many more modifications,” Bruzon said.
His focus, however, remained on East Bengal’s performance and the attitude of his players on matchday. “How difficult or how easy it is will depend on the attitude of the players,” he reiterated.
East Bengal defender Mohammed Rakip underlined the significance of the match, calling it crucial for the team’s morale.
“I think it’s a crucial match for us. We’re staying focused on the process and learning from these games. We’re ready to give our best to get three points,” Rakip said.
With the AFC Challenge League on the horizon, Rakip believes that a positive result could provide a timely confidence boost. “Hopefully, if we get three points, it will boost our confidence before heading to the AFC Challenge League,” he added.
Sergio Lobera: Focus on the Fans and Competition
On the other side, Odisha FC coach Sergio Lobera acknowledged the importance of the fixture, particularly for the fans, but was quick to emphasize the need to focus on performance.
“For our fans, it is a special game against them (East Bengal FC), for us as well. But there are three points at stake, and we are approaching the game, as always, putting the focus on the game, trying to do the best we can, and let’s see what happens tomorrow,” Lobera said.
Lobera praised East Bengal, noting their potential to compete at the highest level in the ISL.
“For sure, they are candidates to play in the playoffs, and I am sure they are going to be there at the end of the season,” he remarked. “But we need to compete well because tomorrow we are going to play against a very, very strong team.”
Odisha FC will look to make the most of their home advantage, with Lobera confident his side has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“We always want to give our fans something to cheer about, and we are prepared to do our best tomorrow,” he said.
The Stakes: A Crucial Match for Both Teams
For East Bengal, the match represents a chance to get their season back on track after a series of poor results.
With Oscar Bruzon at the helm, the team has shown flashes of potential but will need to find consistency if they are to challenge for a playoff spot and win their first point of the season.
Odisha FC, on the other hand, have been showing promise this season under Sergio Lobera’s guidance.
They will be aiming to secure all three points in front of their home crowd and continue their push up the ISL standings.
The match promises to be a hard-fought encounter, with both teams eager to claim victory and move closer to their season objectives.
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