ISL Season 8: SC East Bengal have shown great fight in their last two matches in the Indian Super League. While the results may not have gone in their favour, the Red and Golds look a lot better team under the tutelage of new coach Mario Rivera. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only on InsideSport.IN
The Kolkata Giants came from 0-2 down to equalise against Chennaiyin FC in their last match. However, after the game, Rivera was happy with the performance but disappointed with the result as he thought that his men lost the opportunity to win the game.
But the Red and Golds will take the field with renewed energy to record their second win against Odisha FC in their next clash. Therefore ahead of the game, Rivera interacted with media at the pre-match press conference.
Ahead of #SCEBOFC, Lalrinliana Hnamte spoke about his last-ditch equaliser against Chennaiyin FC that earned us a point, how the seniors in the team always had his back and so on. 🗣️#JoyEastBengal #WeAreSCEB #আমাগোক্লাব pic.twitter.com/oSYVF0xZAU
— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) February 6, 2022
Speaking about the performance against Chennaiyin FC, Rivera highlighted how his men produced the best second half of this season in the last game and he aim to keep up that intensity against the Kalinga Warriors. “The performance against Chennaiyan FC in the second half was one of our best. It will be right up the list along with the first half of the 2nd leg of Kolkata Derby,” Rivera began.
It has been a tough season for the Red and Golds and the results have surely taken a toll on the players. However, Mario Rivera feels that players are always motivated to win matches as they are professionals. “The players are professionals, they are hungry to win every match, score goals. So there’s no question about any lack of motivation,” the Spanish tactician stated.
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SC East Bengal may not have a chance to make it to the playoffs anymore but they still can finish in mid-table. But head coach Mario Rivera does not want to put more pressure on his players as he revealed that they do not see the table and take one match at a time. “We are not looking at the table now, we are taking it match by match. We want to win the next three points up for grabs and then move on to the next one.”
Ahead of their clash against the Kalinga Warriors, Rivera is wary of the threat that Kino Garcia’s men possess. “Odisha FC are a balanced side, they always have four + two players behind the ball so it’s very difficult to surprise them. They have some good players who have experience in the ISL and some of them have also played in the La Liga,” Rivera opined.
Lastly, the Spaniard spoke about Brazilian striker Marcelo Ribeiro and lauded his performance against Chennaiyin FC. It is tough for a new player to adjust to a new league without any proper pre-season. But Marcelo has been pretty decent for the Kolkata outfit till now.
“Marcelo has been working hard, providing us with chances in the opponent half. He won almost all the duels in the Chennaiyan FC match. He is involved in all our attacks someway or the other,” the Spanish tactician concluded.
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