Stephen Constantine: My obsession is East Bengal and putting them in the top six

The East Bengal coach gave many honest opinions on his tenure at the club and the national team

East Bengal defeated a much-changed Mumbai City 1-0 to register their sixth win of the season. Stephen Constantine's men put up a resolute display and capitalized on their chances to halt Mumbai City's home run. They become the first team to beat Mumbai City at home and keep a clean sheet.

A happy Stephen Constantine was pleased with the team's performance and the wide array of interesting questions asked during the post-match press conference. Here is what the East Bengal coach had to say. Edited excerpts from the press conference are as follows,

Team's brilliant display

East Bengal's players complemented each other well and functioned as a unit to beat the shield winners in their own patch. Amid the backdrop of Mumbai's players celebrating and lifting the ISL Shield, Constantine said, "Delighted with the performance from start to finish. Today we were the better team. Congratulations to Des Buckingham's staff for winning the shield. it is a great achievement.

"The only time we were outclassed was in the reverse fixture, every other game we have been competitive. I had 12 players when I arrived on August 4th, 12 players, no physio, and no staff. We could have had another 10 points, but the boys fought with whatever they had and gave everything for me. Now we can look forward to the big one, the derby.

"I take responsibility for the mistakes my players have made. When you manage a team like East Bengal, you cannot please everyone at the same time. For us to have won 6 games and the most points in the ISL. I'm always happy when we win. "

Cutting out the social media noise

Since taking charge, Stephen Constantine has faced a lot of criticism from East Bengal fans who are unhappy with the team's trajectory. The coach mentioned that he has the support of the board, "It's easy (to cut out the noise). Everyone has an opinion. I understand they have opinions. I have been tasked with taking this club back to where it was a few years back.

"My obsession is East Bengal and putting them in the top six. What you need in these difficult moments is the support of your staff, board and players and I think I have that, the board has shown me support since day 1 and I am not afraid of anybody."

Difference between managing a national team and a club

The East Bengal assignment is Stephen Constantine's first experience coaching an Indian football club. The Englishman outlined the differences between coaching a national team and a club, "I have managed six national teams and I have insisted that I manage their U-23s as well for no money. The reason is with the national team you have only 5 meetings in a year. When you lose with the national team, I have three months before the next game. With club football, there is a game around the corner.

"When I came to East Bengal, I had players who had no chance to play under me, but I cannot get rid of their contracts. Then it's how you speak to the players, how they fit the system. Football is played without the ball. If you put a stopwatch on how long Jahouh had the ball with his feet, it would be 2 minutes. We need to be able to play without the ball."

India's current footballing state

Stephen Constantine gave an honest breakdown of the current situation in Indian football and did not shy away from pointing out the fundamental flaws, "In India, we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing. There are no Indian coaches in the ISL, half in the I-League. We need district leagues and coaches in the district leagues teaching players from the age of five-six-seven, not 16. It's too late.

"We are 5-6 years behind other Asian teams. We are paying Indian players big money because there is a shortage? Why? Lack of coach education. By the time I was 16 I had played 300 11-a-side games."

Constantine's future

Stephen Constantine said that he will have offers depending on the performance, but cited the importance of consistency for the success of a football club, "My contract finishes in May. If people are happy with my performance, I will have offers both here and outside and a few other places. If you keep changing the coach, don't expect your team to win football games. "

"East Bengal have had 10 coaches in the last four years. We lost some players who did not want to come after I told them I am not here next season for sure. If you want consistency, you stick with the coach through thick and thin. I am a sporting director, I know what I'm saying. The foundation has to be there, you look at Arteta at Arsenal."

Complacency before the derby

East Bengal play Mohun Bagan in a huge game to round off the league stages. Constantine answered with this when asked if any complacency has crept in, "Did you say complacent? Us? I would say no way. We are not a team that can afford to be complacent. The objective today was to spoil the party, bitter lemon. Love it. We want to win the derby next. For the fans, come to the stadium. You cannot change your team. I'll change my wife before I change my team."