Rahul Giri from Bhubaneswar
After an underwhelming ISL campaign and a quarterfinal exit in the AFC Challenge League, East Bengal are looking to reset and make a strong statement in the 2025 Kalinga Super Cup. Head coach Oscar Bruzon, reflecting on the club’s recent disappointments, emphasised the importance of the upcoming tournament and the opportunity it presents to secure a spot in the Asian competition next season.
“We have been working hard for the last three weeks, given how crucial this tournament is,” Bruzon said in the press conference ahead if the match against Kerala Blasters. “As you know, we are the defending champions. This competition gives us a chance to represent India in Asia, and that is a big motivation for us.”
Bruzon spoke of the team’s struggles over the past season. “It’s no secret that this season has been turbulent. We couldn’t meet the expectations that were placed on us at the beginning of the campaign. Our fans have every right to feel disappointed — especially when our rivals, Mohun Bagan, are lifting trophies. But this is not a situation we accept easily. We are professionals, and we want to show our supporters we are determined to turn things around.”
On the fitness front, Bruzon provided an update on Spanish midfielder Saúl Crespo, who suffered a minor injury earlier this week. “Saúl has a slight issue with his calf muscle. The medical team has assured us that it’s nothing serious. However, he hasn’t trained for the last two days. A decision will be made tomorrow on whether he will feature, but he will likely be part of the 20-member squad. I’m hopeful he’ll be ready to contribute.”
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The coach reiterated East Bengal’s ambition to retain their Super Cup crown. “We want to win this tournament again. Our main issue has been in the opponent’s box — not converting chances. If we want to lift the trophy, we must be at our best in both attack and defence. That’s where our focus is.”
Looking ahead to their opening match against Kerala Blasters, Bruzon acknowledged the challenge. “Tomorrow, we face one of the iconic clubs of Indian football in recent years. Kerala Blasters have brought in a new coach and, like us, have had an inconsistent season. I expect both teams to give it everything on the pitch.”
In the recently concluded ISL, Kerala Blasters finished on 29 points from 14 games. That put them on eighth, a point and a place ahead of East Bengal in the league standings.
Kerala Blasters’ newly appointed head coach, David Català, also shared his thoughts ahead of the encounter. “Defensively, we’ve had some issues, but for me, it’s important to work across all departments. I want the team to be compact and strong in every phase of play. More importantly, I want to instil confidence in the players, to help them believe in themselves and play with freedom.”
Català acknowledged the emotional toll of a difficult season on his squad. “Some of the players have been disappointed with how things went. Now, it’s about ending the season in the best possible way, with the best solutions we can find.”