ISL champion East Bengal will look to continue its title defence against Inter Kashi at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Friday. East Bengal enters the clash after a 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers. Coach Antonio Lopez Habas said, "We've built a strong squad where anyone can step up."
East Bengal enters the clash after a 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers, while Inter Kashi drew 1-1 with Odisha FC in its previous match in the Indian Super League.
Indian Super League (ISL) champion East Bengal will look to continue its title defence on a high when it takes on Inter Kashi at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Friday.
East Bengal enters the clash after a 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers, with Super-sub Bipin Singh scoring twice.
"Scoring the brace in the last match was definitely a huge confidence boost for me. We're navigating a very hectic schedule, but as professionals, we adapt and move forward. Our full focus is on competing and succeeding across both the MG ISL and the ACL Two," Bipin said before the match.
The match also has an interesting subplot: Antonio Lopez Habas, who is now the head coach of East Bengal, will now stand against a team which he had once helped enter this league. But the Spaniard currently has his entire focus on his current club.
"We've built a strong squad where anyone can step up and deliver when it counts. Winning championships requires that kind of versatility and adaptability," he said.
Kashi, on the other hand, comes in with a spirit of resilience. Trailing 0-1 for most of its previous clash (against Odisha FC), Thoi Singh Huidrom's stunning equaliser secured a point for the team.
"I cannot change my idea of the game because of the opponent that we are facing. Maybe it will be a bit more difficult to play the way we want, but our approach will be the same," Kashi's coach Vaz Pinto said.
"I believe we can win this match and I believe in what we are trying to build here. We know where we are, but also where we want to be, so we cannot think differently for one game just because of one opponent. If we try to change our approach for one match, even with the respect we have for East Bengal or any other opponent, we will end up doing everything wrong."
Kashi was East Bengal's last opponent in the ISL last season - a match where the Red-and-Gold Brigade pulled off a comeback to win 2-1 and clinch the top-flight title after 22 years.
That was in East Bengal's den, in Kolkata. Now, Kashi, playing in its new home, will look to flip the script this time around.
The match kicks off at 5 pm IST.