Haven’t been offered a two-year contract, says Stephen Constantine

The hype is massive ahead of the Kolkata derby.

Stephen Constantine's East Bengal FC and ATK Mohun Bagan lock horns in what is the last league game of the 2022-23 season of the Indian Super League for both teams. The match will take place at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday. 

One can expect to see a huge crowd since it is the Kolkata-derby and the final chance to see these two teams in action against each other this season before the playoffs commence. The 2022-23 season has been full of highs and lows for Stephen Constantine as the head coach of East Bengal FC. “I have experienced about every emotion that mankind can experience”, he said during the media interaction.

The tactician spoke at length about various issues and Charis Kyriakou also took his set alongside the coach in the press conference ahead of the derby. Here are the excerpts:

Confident ahead of the game

Stephen Constantine feels his team is entering the derby with a positive mindset. He said, “We are as prepared as we can for this game. We had a fantastic result last week, beating Mumbai and stopping their home advantage and stopping them from scoring goals. We played well and are confident going into the game tomorrow.”

One of our best performances

Talking about the previous game where East Bengal FC upset Mumbai City FC by 0-1 away from home, Constantine said, “I thought we were convincing. It was one of our best performances this season. We have dominated many teams and have had a lot of moments where we have been good despite our problems. When I arrived, there were 12 players and no staff. People need to understand where we were on August 4th and where we are now. I believe going into next season and the Super Cup, we have a foundation.”

Winning the derby

Stephen Constantine feels the game against ATK Mohun Bagan will be difficult but even more so because it is a derby. He said, “Every game in the ISL is tough but there is no tougher game than the derby. Everyone wants to win the derby. I think we are in a good way and I am looking forward to the game.”

“The confidence levels are where they should be. We are an arrogant team and will fight to get the three points for sure.” he further added

Crucial next steps

The head coach also clarified that the club is in a good place and the next steps are key to its development. He said, “This year, we have put the foundations in place. What happens next is going to be key for the future of the club in my humble opinion… We can continue the way we are going, we need new players, we need to bring some fresh blood in, everybody knows that.”

Contractual negotiations

Talking about the contract extension discussions, Stephen Constantine said, “I haven’t been offered a two-year contract. They have asked me on multiple occasions if I would be interested to stay, that’s it.”

Mentality issues

One of the major issues for East Bengal FC this season has been a lack of character and mentality in key situations. Pointing towards this issue, Constantine said, “We have dropped a lot of points from being in the lead. I think that has to do with our concentration levels, perhaps our quality at times but it is something that is a concern for us. Having said that, we have improved in the last three or four games and that is exactly what we need.”

Charis Kyriakou on the derby

Charis Kyriakou received praise from the head coach for being a versatile player. Speaking to the media, he was clear about what needs to be done in order to win a derby. He said, “In derby games, it is important to have heart, willingness, passion and determination. It does not matter what is the difference in the league table, it is up to who wants it more.”