ISL 2023-24: We deserved to win the game – East Bengal FC’s Carles Cuadrat after draw against Mohun Bagan Super Giant

East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat feels they deserved to win the game after a 2-2 draw against rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday in the Indian Super League.

The Kolkata giants gave fans what they expected but the thrilling contest ended in a draw. Ajay Chhetri scored early in the third minute for East Bengal FC. However, Armando Sadiko equalized for the Mariners in the 17th minute.

East Bengal captain and striker Cleiton Sliva gave a 2-1 lead as he scored from a spot-kick after half-time. However, Dimitri Petratos equalized for East Bengal in the 87th minute to help his team share the spoils.

East Bengal FC took three shots on target and almost had 44% of possession but Cuadrat reckons the Super Cup winners deserved more than a point from the game.

“We had some clear chances to win the game and we missed one very clear chance of Edwin (Vanspaul), alone against the goalkeeper. And we missed 2-3, with one very clear chance of Nandhakumar (Sekar). So I’m 100% sure that we deserved to win the game,” stated Cuadrat at the post-match press conference.

Expressing his pride in the youngsters, Cuadrat shared, “You know, managing is a very special thing because as coach, as manager, you have to try to give opportunities to all the players, and you have to try to choose the right moment for that kind of opportunities. So I’m very happy that, from the start of the season, there are some players with not a lot of minutes, but they have been training very well. They have been understanding the game, they have been understanding what I need from the different positions.”

“So, (I am) very proud of my players,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sayan Banerjee replaced Crespo in the 18th minute. However, the midfielder was later taken off by Cuadrat as the gaffer introduced Vishnu PV. The Spaniard revealed he wanted to add fresh legs on the pitch.

Explaining his decision, the Spanish tactician elucidated, “He was doing great, wonderful. But because I wanted fresh legs. It was the moment to put Vishnu with another tactical message that I can talk with him very clearly from the bench. So I lose some time to explain it, to make it clear and be slow. He would go inside the pitch with a clear idea of the change of system, the 5-4-1. If I wanted to do that with Sayan in the middle of the game, maybe there would be a problem of communication.”

East Bengal FC will next take on NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday.