In the aftermath of East Bengal FC’s 0-2 loss to Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, interim head coach Bino George expressed his unwavering faith in the team’s potential to turn their fortunes around.
Despite the setback marking their fourth consecutive defeat in the Indian Super League (ISL), George remains optimistic about the squad’s capabilities.
East Bengal had their chances but were ultimately undone by goals from Jamshedpur’s Rei Tachikawa and an own goal by Lalchungnunga.
Saul Crespo’s missed penalty and efforts from Cleiton Silva and Hector Yuste hitting the woodwork left George frustrated but hopeful.
“We got punished for not taking our chances,” he said during the post-match press conference. “They had two big chances, and they scored. We are trying our best. I appreciate the boys today; they did their best. We had a lot of possession and created many chances. Points are important right now, but unfortunately, we don’t have any. Football is like that sometimes.”
Luck was also a theme in George’s analysis. “We missed the penalty, hit the woodwork multiple times, and their goalkeeper made many outstanding saves. If the penalty had gone in, the game would have changed completely,” he added.
George emphasized that the team possesses the quality needed to improve, expressing belief in their potential. “Compared to the last three games, we played more attacking football from the first minute. East Bengal FC has a spirit, and that will come back. We have a break; hopefully, we can make a fresh start.”
He firmly stated, “I still believe that my players have quality. My duty is to push them and motivate them. It’s just four games; the ISL is a very long league. I have 100% belief that East Bengal FC will be among the top six.”
When questioned about Jesin TK, East Bengal’s top goalscorer in the Calcutta Football League who remained on the bench, George explained, “Jesin is a good player, but there is a big difference between the Calcutta Football League and the ISL. He is young, and we don’t know how he will handle the pressure of playing in the ISL. We opted for some experienced players instead.”
As East Bengal looks to regroup, George’s confidence in his team may be the spark they need to ignite their season.