Pantic's signing top professional reaction from club, asserts Carles Cuadrat

East Bengal boss Carles Cuadrat believes Jamshedpur FC are a very difficult team to play at the moment.

East Bengal will hope to move into the top-six place when they face off against Indian Super League (ISL) 2023/24 playoff rivals Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur on Thursday. The Red & Gold Brigade are coming off their first away win in this ISL campaign and will hope to maintain their momentum going forward.

Cuadrat wary of Jamshedpur challenge

Carles Cuadrat is wary of the threat an in-form Jamshedpur FC side can bring and is hopeful that his side can repeat their result from the Super Cup, when they defeated the Men of Steel. He said:

“We know that all games are going to be difficult. They are a very difficult team to play at this moment. They have high intensity in the way they play the game and they believe in what are they doing. But we also. We have been playing nice games of football, and so I expect some nice football tomorrow from both sides.

“This is going to be a challenge. They are fighting for the playoffs like us, and we know we’re the last team to have beaten them a few weeks ago in Super Cup semi-finals. After that, they have been getting wins and draws. It’ll be difficult, but we’ll try to repeat our Super Cup heroics and get the win over them,” he added.

Reflection on Khalid Jamil’s impact on Jamshedpur

When asked about his thoughts on Khalid Jamil’s effect on turning things around for Jamshedpur, who are unbeaten in the second leg of the ISL campaign, the Spaniard explained: “Football is a game of dynamics. Suddenly they are getting results and it gives you new hope, new respect and you get into the right flow. It happens a lot in football, that when you are in a negative dynamic it affects the next match and in a positive dynamic, it affects the next game in a good way.

“I know the way Jamshedpur are playing, results are there, but also they have been struggling in some moments like first half against Mumbai. It was 45 minutes in which Mumbai created a lot of chances. But in the second half, they scored three goals and make a good comeback. I have a lot of respect for our opponent, but it’s a question of moments in the game. When you get positivity, you can get a lot of things. They are very dangerous as a team, and I also think we are,” he added.

Thoughts on Sayan Banerjee

The Spanish coach also had an interesting comparison to make when he was questioned about the development of young winger Sayan Banerjee this season. He said: “Sayan is doing very well. And also Vishnu. I’m very happy with their improvement this season. We are supporting players like them because it’s not easy to reach professional football and make an impact. Young players are in the middle of action and things can happen in a good way, but also in a bad way. You have to protect them as a Coach. I remember a case in Bengaluru when I first gave Suresh (Singh) his first 10 minutes in ISL here in Jamshedpur.

“He made some mistakes, losing ball posession in dangerous zones, so after that game, I spent him to play with the B team for two months to ensure he was in the right moment for right opportunities. After that learning moment, he was playing all the games under me in the first XI in the second half of the season. So you have to protect young players, they don’t have the maturity to understand a lot of things happening in a football game. I think we’re doing a good job supporting our talents and I hope they will have very good numbers going forward,” he added.

Praise for new signing and facing another away game

With Aleksander Pantic available to make his debut for East Bengal against Jamshedpur, Carles Cuadrat praised the club for signing him swiftly as Jose Pardo’s replacement. He said: “It’s a very good thing for the club to bring him in. We have been missing two important players this season due to long time injuries, but we found a replacement quickly in both cases. Aleksander came fast to help us if we needed him. That’s a very good answer from the club to get him very fast. With that crazy calendar, if you miss a key foreign player for a week, you are missing him for three games. Pantic was training in Serbia and was ready to join us when Pardo’s injury happened. It was a top professional reaction from the club.”

When asked if he feels psychological pressure to play another away game in the ISL, the mentor said: “No. Not at all. Every game is a final now. We have to fight for the three points.

“Every moment of a season is different. We are now fighting six teams for one position in the league and I think both teams tomorrow will go for the three points. Every different moment give different sensations in a campaign. We are coming off our first away win, so now on the pitch we have to show that we have a bigger desire to get the three points,” he added.

Aleksandar Pantic ready for East Bengal challlenge

New signing Aleksandar Pantic is also relishing the challenge to play for East Bengal, as he spoke ahead of his potential ISL debut: “First of all, this is a new challenge for me. I spoke a lot about it to the coach. I have friends playing here in India and I spoke with them. I think that it’s very good for me to come here to help the club. I hope we can make something special together.

“I’ve been here for three days and I think I’m ready for the game. I spoke with the coach and the players. I am ready to fight for the team,” he added.

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