After a crushing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chennaiyin FC, on Saturday, East Bengal’s playoff hopes have all but vanished. Now, only a miracle can keep the club in contention for a top-six finish—something which they have never achieved since their inception in the ISL.
The Red and Gold Brigade began the season with high hopes, making some big moves in the summer transfer window. In fact, they were the second-most active club in the window.
Among their key signings were Dimitrios Diamantakos, the top-scorer of the previous ISL season, and Madih Talal, the league’s highest assist provider. However, neither has lived up to expectations.
As the ISL league stage nears its conclusion, East Bengal finds itself languishing in 11th place with just 18 points from 19 games. If we look back to analyse their underwhelming campaign, one of the biggest takeaways is the underperformance of their foreign recruits.
In the ISL, foreign players are brought in with the expectation of making a difference, supported by the domestic squad. However, none of East Bengal’s overseas signings have met those expectations.
Unfortunately the overseas players of East Bengal weren’t up to the mark. “The Indian players are playing really well. We all know foreigners are the key to any team. So, as your foreigners are not doing well, the whole team is suffering” Former Brazilian footballer, Douglas Silva, who also played for East Bengal, commented on the foreigners in the side, after the game against Chennaiyin FC.
Diamantakos:
The Greek striker has scored just three goals in ISL 2023-24. This is a stark contrast to his previous two seasons, where he was a lethal goal machine for Kerala Blasters, scoring 23 goals and providing 6 assists. Despite high hopes, his impact at East Bengal has been minimal. His only real success has come in the AFC Challenge Cup, where he has netted four goals in three appearances. But in the ISL, he has struggled to find his rhythm. However Oscar Bruzon is still optimistic about his comeback “Diamantakos is a box player, he has to be there, and the moment he scores one goal, I’m sure that he’s going to turn it around, change the luck, and get a good run of goals.”
Cleiton Silva:
Another foreigner who has suffered a drastic dip in form. Cleiton, a fan favorite, had scored 20 goals in the last two ISL seasons. However, in the current campaign, he has failed to score a single goal, registering just two assists. His struggles, combined with Diamantakos’ poor form, explain why East Bengal is struggling near the bottom of the table.
To address these woes, East Bengal brought in two new foreign attackers: Richard Celis and Raphaël Messi Bouli.
- Celis, who primarily plays as a winger, has already featured in four matches.
- Messi Bouli, the Cameroonian striker who had an impressive spell with Kerala in the 2019-20 season, is yet to be fully tested. He played only a few minutes against Chennaiyin, but the team will be heavily reliant on him to solve their goal-scoring issues.
Defense: Big Names, Bigger Disappointments
While the attackers have struggled, the defensive unit has been equally disappointing. East Bengal made some big defensive signings, including Anwar Ali, Hijazi Maher, and Héctor Yuste, but the backline has failed to provide any stability.
Héctor Yuste: There is a stark difference between the Yuste who won the League Shield with Mohun Bagan SG last season and the Yuste who has struggled at East Bengal. Signed on the final day of the transfer window, the club hoped he would bring experience and leadership to the backline. However, he has struggled throughout the season.
At 37, Yuste has often failed to match the pace and intensity of the ISL. Injuries have also kept him sidelined for several matches, raising questions about the club’s decision to sign a player in the twilight of his career.
Hijazi Maher:
After being named the Best Defender in East Bengal’s Kalinga Super Cup 2024 victory, the club extended his contract until 2025-26. Alongside Anwar Ali and Lalchungnunga, he was expected to provide stability at the back.
However, Hijazi’s form has dipped drastically compared to last season. To make matters worse, he has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a Grade 3 ACL injury.
Midfield: No Command, No Control
While the spotlight has been on the struggling attackers and defenders, East Bengal’s midfield has also been underwhelming.
Madih Talal:
Talal, who arrived with high expectations from Punjab FC, initially showed glimpses of his talent. However, his season was cut short due to an ACL injury, dealing a huge blow to East Bengal.
Saul Crespo:
In Talal’s absence, Saul Crespo was expected to step up and lead the midfield. But he has been far from convincing. Injuries kept him out for nine matches, and even after returning against Chennaiyin, he looked off the pace. His misplaced pass led to Chennaiyin’s opening goal in their 3-0 defeat.
After that match, the East Bengal head coach admitted that the decision backfired. “Many players came (back) from injuries, probably it was too early to field them. I felt that players like (Mohammad) Rakip, and Saul (Crespo) today, are still not ready to match the intensity.”
Season Marred by Injuries & Suspensions
East Bengal’s injury and suspension troubles have played a significant role in their disappointing season. However, poor performances from their overseas contingent cannot be overlooked.
With ISL hopes all but over, the team must now shift focus to their crucial AFC Challenge League clash against Arkadag in March. If their foreign stars fail to step up, there won’t be much left for East Bengal fans to cheer for at the end of the season.
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