East Bengal bid farewell to Mandar Rao Dessai, Victor Vazquez and three other players

East Bengal didn’t have a good ISL 2023-24 season.

East Bengal’s 2023-24 campaign was a frustrating mix of promise and disappointment. While they impressed in cup competitions, reaching the Durand Cup final and ultimately clinching the Super Cup, their league form remained a sticking point.

In a significant reshuffle, East Bengal have bid farewell to several prominent players, including Mandar Rao Dessai, Felicio Brown Forbes, Victor Vazquez, Aleksandar Pantic and Ajay Chhetri, as they prepare for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. The move marks a new chapter for the club, who aim to rebuild and strengthen their squad for future challenges.

New season with new approach

Head coach Carles Cuadrat‘s tactics seemed to click in knockout tournaments, but translating that winning formula into consistent ISL performances proved elusive. The Red and Gold’s struggles in the league ultimately dashed their hopes of reaching the playoffs for yet another season, as they secured ninth position on the table.

Defender Mandar Rao Dessai made 17 appearances, keeping five clean-sheets for East Bengal last season. Meanwhile, Costa Rica forward Felicio Brown Forbes scored once on his debut, but only managed 11 total appearances.

In midfield, Victor Vazquez displayed his experience with an impressive 86% passing accuracy, creating 17 goalscoring opportunities in just 10 appearances. However, his impact wasn’t fully reflected in assists, as he only managed one.

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Ajay Chhetri, another central midfielder, chipped in with only one goal in his nine games. Young talent Chhetri also leaves East Bengal, marking the end of a promising stint with the club.

Meanwhile, Aleksandar Pantic, the Serbian defender brought in as a replacement for Jose Antonio Pardo, saw limited action with just eight appearances, though he did manage to create one goal during that time.

East Bengal recognized the contributions of the departing players on X. The club acknowledged their dedication and expressed sincere good wishes for their future endeavors.

As East Bengal bid farewell to Dessai, Forbes, Vazquez, Pantic and Chhetri, fans and the football community will keenly watch how the club navigate this transition. The upcoming season presents both a challenge and an opportunity for East Bengal to re-establish themselves as a formidable force in Indian football.

Dear Mandar, Felicio, Victor, Aleks and Ajay – We thank you for your services to the club and wish you the best for the future! ❤️💛#EmamiEastBengal pic.twitter.com/0hrt25cSxm

— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) June 8, 2024

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