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East Bengal will look to recreate their winning formula after being winless for four I-League games when they host Indian Arrows at the Barasat Stadium on Sunday, February 4.
The Khalid Jamil-led side risks falling out of top four if they don’t obtain a positive result against Indian Arrows side who are winless in their last three games.
Incidentally, East Bengal’s last win in the I-League came against the Arrows when two early first-half strikes sealed three points in the away fixture on January 2. Three stalemates and a derby defeat to their archrivals later, Jamil’s men are desperate in their search for three points now.
The second half fightback against table toppers Minerva Punjab FC in their last match will give the home side a huge confidence boost coming into the game.
Head coach Khalid Jamil, on the eve of the game, commented, “We did not go down easily in the last match. We scored two and we have to fight similarly in this match. They (Indian Arrows) are playing well. We have to play a good brand of football.”
“We must think about our game. It doesn’t matter where the match is, our work is to play, no matter where. There is pressure. We have six more games to prove ourselves. We have to rectify our mistakes and move on.”
East Bengal have 20 points in their kitty and dropped into fourth after Mohun Bagan garnered a win against Lajong FC tonight. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Al Amna is slated to come back from injury while Armand Bazie has been released from the squad.
The All India Football Federation’s developmental side managed to grab a goalless stalemate last time they took to the ground away at Chennai City FC. With 11 points from 13 games. Luis Norton de Matos’ side have come back to the City of Joy, where earlier this season they drew with Mohun Bagan.
“This is a place of football. I have very good memories from the time we played against Mohun Bagan. For us, we are going to try to be our best as usual. Kingfisher East Bengal is a team to challenge. A lot of concentration is needed to face them. It is going to be difficult but not an impossible mission.”
“To play in Saltlake Stadium would have been fantastic for the boys. But we have to play on artificial grass, it is difficult,” he commented.
He added, “I am sure they have developed, what people expected from them, they have done better than that. It is important for every club to use boys aged 16-17, only then Indian football will develop.”
While pressure mounts on the former I-League winning coach to deliver in the Red and Golds colours, the youngsters will be hoping to create a major upset.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm IST with the match to be broadcast live on Star Sports 2/ 2 HD. Live streaming will be available on Hotstar and Jio TV.
