East Bengal will not regret playing defensively as it did in previous years: Bruzon before the Kolkata derby in the Super Cup

East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon said his team will go all out for a win in the Super Cup group match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

The Red and Gold come into the match needing a draw – provided Dempo doesn’t beat Chennaiyin by five goals – with a greater goal difference than Bagan. But Bruzon said his men will be aiming for nothing less than full points in the match.

«Tomorrow we will try to play to win. And whatever the outcome, at least we will not regret playing a defensive game, as we probably did in previous years, because the results were not on East Bengal’s side,» Bruzon told reporters.

“But this year, already in two games, yes, we have lost the penalty shoot-out (in the IFA Shield), but we have shown on the pitch that we can compete very well with Mohun Bagan.”

Bruzon, who was appointed midway through last season, was in charge in two derbies – the Durand Cup quarter-final and the IFA Shield – losing the latter. But the Spaniard said his team’s ‘journey’ in the current scenario should not be put under the same lens as Bagan.

“Mohun Bagan plays in international competitions and is one of the strongest teams in the country,” Bruzon said.

«What East Bengal is trying to do after seasons of struggle is slowly coming back and showing that we are putting in positive performances. We are slowly closing the gap with the best teams in the country.»

But he added that the gap between the teams has narrowed this season. «If you had asked me this question last year, it wouldn’t have been good for us. But this year I think the forces are in balance,» he said.

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Margao has received heavy rain over the past week with the match between FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC being interrupted due to poor pitch conditions. Brown spots and holes were also visible in Wednesday’s match at Fatorda.

«They tried to fix it. It’s full of holes. It’s not in good condition. Probably the Bambolim pitch has a bit better drainage, it’s harder and flatter. This pitch probably has better grip, but it’s softer, so over time it’s really, really damaged,» the coach sighed.

Bruzon also noted that the ground was made for narrow play.

«We just counted the dimensions of the pitch, and this pitch is not the same as all Indian pitches. It is 66 meters wide, probably this is because FC Goa play on the continental stage and they wanted a narrow pitch. But the reality is that it is the first time I have seen a pitch in India that is 66 meters wide,» he said.

«But again, tomorrow the conditions will be the same for both teams. There is no excuse. We are going to play on this field and the best team will progress.»

Published on October 30, 2025