Chennaiyin FC (CFC) will aim to continue their winning momentum when they host a beleaguered SC East Bengal side in the ISL at the Tilak Maidan on Friday.
While two-time champions CFC have begun their campaign with wins in both their matches so far, everything has gone wrong for their opponents. The red and gold brigade has had a horrid start with two losses and a draw but what will be more distressing for their coach Manolo Diaz is the amount of goals – 10 – they have conceded in these matches.
Diaz admitted that defence is a concern for his team. “We are not comfortable defending free-kicks and set-pieces. We are working on it. Not only the defenders, but the entire team needs to stay focused throughout the match if we are to do well,” the Spaniard said during a virtual pre-match media conference on Thursday.
CFC coach Bozidar Bandovic said that he has made note of East Bengal’s defensive frailties. “We are aware of East Bengal’s weaknesses but we are not taking them lightly. We are preparing in the same way like we do for other teams with full discipline and focus. After three losses, East Bengal will be desperate to win and want to make a comeback. So we need to be ready,” Bandovic said.
Despite winning both their matches, Chennaiyin have taken time to settle down and often looked sluggish. Their modus operandi has been to hold their defensive shape and launch quick counter-attacks.
Bandovic said that his wards need to improve both tactically and physically. “My players need to be quicker. I want them to train their minds and stay focused so that they can make good decisions during crucial moments. If you have possession and are attacking but not creating any chances, then possession doesn’t mean anything to me. At the same time, without a good defence, we don’t have a team. Physically, I want my players to be fresh till the final whistle. So far, I am happy with how my players have reacted and we are looking to build on it,” said Bandovic.
While CFC will look to pile misery on East Bengal, the 53-year-old Diaz said he wants his players to learn from his mistakes and focus on the positives. East Bengal might have conceded six goals in their last match against Odisha but have also scored four. “The fact that we have started scoring goals is a big positive. It is an indication of the fact that the attacking line-up has started clicking together. But in football, it is a matter of balance,” said Diaz.
There are no fitness concerns for Chennaiyin while East Bengal are still sweating on the fitness of their goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya and defender Adil Khan.
