'Team was too much tired'- East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas reflects on cagey Al-Seeb draw in ACL Two 2026-27

East Bengal shares spoils in dull draw with Al Seeb.

East Bengal FC and Al-Seeb played out a 0-0 draw in an AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 match on Tuesday. East Bengal, thus, have two points from three matches, while Al-Seeb secured their first point of the campaign.

Both sides created a few chances, but neither could find the breakthrough. East Bengal withstood some late attacks from Al-Seeb to earn a point. Earlier, East Bengal had drawn against Jordanian side Al-Hussein SC and lost to Iraqi side Al-Shorta SC.

East Bengal FC will return to action in the AFC Champions League Two 2026–27 campaign against Al-Seeb on November 3, 2026. The match will take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, with kick-off set for 7:15 PM IST. The Red-and-Gold Brigade will aim to capitalise on their home advantage after settling for a goalless draw in Oman.

After the Al-Seeb fixture, East Bengal will welcome Al-Hussein SC to Kolkata on November 24 before concluding their group-stage campaign with an away clash against Al-Shorta SC on December 8.

Following a disappointing goalless draw against Al-Seeb Club in Oman on Matchday Three of the 2026–27 ACL Two campaign, East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas addressed the media.

Here is the post-match press conference of East Bengal head coach Antonio Lopez Habas after the Al-Seeb match in Oman!

Habas’ thoughts on the performance against Al-Seeb

Antonio Habas spoke about his team’s fatigue following the goalless draw against Al-Seeb, a must-win clash for East Bengal as they looked to strengthen their position in the competition.

Habas said: “Bad performance from my team. I think the team was tired today, too tired, without maintaining the intensity or continuing the transition process. The opponent was good, but it was a very poor performance in terms of intensity, and it was difficult for us. We have to recover now because we have been away from Kolkata for a long time, spending a week away from home and travelling, etc.”

“But we have to improve the team for the next match. I am absolutely 100% sure that the team will recover its level for the next match, he also added.”

Habas on East Bengal’s ACL Two 2026–27 hopes

East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas stated that his team must continue to believe and fight in their upcoming matches in the competition to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Spanish gaffer stated: “Next match, next match, match to match. We have to play again. I’ll see another match immediately, and this is our future. We cannot think too far ahead, not about the long term, understand? Today, the match was for both teams.”

“It’s possible to win here, and it’s possible to win against Al-Hussein and Al-Shorta too, but here the score is 0-0. We have to fight and change this performance in Kolkata.”

“Whether I am satisfied with this result or not, I would say that when you can play better, it’s better not to lose than to lose. Okay, thank you very much,” he concluded.

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