ISL 2025-26: Oscar Bruzon in alert mode before Mumbai City FC clash

East Bengal will lock horns against Mumbai away from home

East Bengal will face off against Mumbai City FC in their upcoming 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) clash, which will take place at the Mumbai Football Arena on May 5, 2026, with a 7:30 PM IST kick-off.

East Bengal FC are, of course, flying high under Oscar Bruzon as they have lost only one match so far in this year’s league and have scored 25 goals in the season, which is the highest number of goals scored by any team this season, 6 goals more than their arch rivals Mohun Bagan SG.

This is also a record for the Red and Gold Brigade since their inception in the Indian Super League. The Torchbearers are currently at 4th spot with 18 points, just 1 point behind Mumbai, also playing one match less than the Islanders.

With both these teams eager to strongly challenge for the ISL 2025-26 title, this should be a really feisty and entertaining encounter as it’s a major opportunity for both sides to prove their credentials as potential title winners.

Ahead of the all-important clash against Mumbai City FC, East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon and winger Jerry Mawihmingthanga have addressed the media.

Here is a detailed report of the pre-match press conference between East Bengal FC and Mumbai City FC.

Oscar on East Bengal’s improvement

Oscar Bruzon highlights how East Bengal has grown as a team over the last season under his guidance in the pre-match press conference ahead of the all-important clash against Mumbai City FC.

Oscar stated: “First of all I need to clear something that how East Bengal have improved as a team over the last season. Many players came to the club and shared their experience for the club’s success. This year we had a lot of players who have been playing in this league for a long time. So if you consider Jerry, I knew from the very first day after he came to this club that he will play well whenever he gets his opportunity. In the last match he finally got the opportunity to play for East Bengal FC after 5-6 matches, and showed his capabilities. It is not easy to play after such a long time without any match exposure for 3-4 months, he was silent. He was training really hard in the practice sessions and was eagerly waiting for his opportunity. I am very happy that he is back into the team in the very right moment of the league.”

“Second this press conference is all about the situation of East Bengal and the match we will going to play on Tuesday, which is very crucial. Yes I will announce some personal decision taken by me and clarify on some of the news that has been speculating on the social media for the last 24 hours. But I want to clear one thing that this personal decision is not at all important than East Bengal. The most important here is East Bengal’s last four games of the season and we want to finish the most successful ISL season of the club on a high note so far in the history of the Indian Super League.”

“Once saying that I must admit that no individual is ahead than the club atleast till the last day I am here at this club. I have completed almost two years with East Bengal, this has been the most successful, iconic and historic club for me in India. In the history of the club, I want to thank all the fans of this club who have always supported me in my ups and downs with the club and have been incredible. So for me they are best the fanbase in Asia,” he added.

Oscar Bruzon announces his departure

Oscar Bruzon to step down as East Bengal FC Head Coach at the end of the season. ​The Spaniard cited a lack of long-term planning and future direction as the reasons for his departure.

Bruzon clarified that the decision is personal and not related to finances or the state of Indian football.

The Spaniard stated: “I signed my extension here last year on 14th February, 2025. From that moment we started planning on the technical matters of the club and Mr. Vibhash Agarwal on the economical matters of the club. I am along with Emami have been really working hard to for the past few months to improve the situation of the club. We have been working out our plans since last year February, how we can improve the performance of the club and what went wrong in the past few seasons. We started the analysis, scouting players who can play and bring out the best results for the club. I take all the responsibilities what has happened this year in the club.”

“I along with Emami, and my technical team have reviewed, formed the team, and worked in bad conditions. Emami and I are responsible for what has happened in the club. It is now May from February, but there is no long-term plan, no work responsibilities. Since there is no future direction, I have decided not to continue in charge. There are still 3 weeks. It is not a matter of uncertainty or financial issues with Indian football, it is my personal decision.”

“So the plan started in February and now we are standing here in the month of May, but there is no long-term plan, vision or mission from the club’s management. There is also no indication regarding the contract extension of the important players. So as a professional person, I want say that I will not continue as the head coach of East Bengal after this season, after 31st May. But I will give my everything, and try to finish this season on a high note, in the best possible position in the points table. I will fight till my last breath for the club in the last four matches.”

“This decision was taken due to any economical fault, or due the dark situation in the Indian Football circuit, this is absolutely a personal decision taken by me, as there is no long-term plan, or vision from the club’s end regarding East Bengal’s development and growth. Our plan also failed, this doesn’t depends on where we finish, it is my personal decision to not continue as the head coach.”

“So three of us, myself, Adrián Rubio, the assistant coach, and Javier Sánchez , the trainer have decided to step down after 31st May, and help East Bengal to plan their strategies how they want to for the upcoming season. I will not entertain any more question regarding this now, yes I will answer all the questions related to the performance of the club in this season after the last match of the season. he also added.”

Importance of good mentality

Bruzon stated: “No I don’t think this decision will impact the mentality of my players at this crucial stage of the league. But this will be super good for them. They can plan their future well with the club and can decide on the future with the club. They have one month can take their decisions on extending their contract with the club as well. So this will have a positive impact on the mentality of my players. They will also give their best in the last four matches of the season and end the season on a high note for East Bengal.”

“I think this was the right moment to announce this decision. As here in India, there are lot of narratives and rumours being created regarding a decision that has already being taken by an individual. I don’t want anybody to change my narrative in the press conference so want to clear that it was my personal decision to step down as the head coach of the team. Yes I have also informed the management before taking this decision. I don’t want any bad impact on my players and coaching staff regarding the decision taken by me, so this was absolutely the right moment to announce this decision.” 

“I don’t want to disclose my relationship with the club management but want to tell one thing that I and Mr. Vibhash Agarwal are completely responsible for what has happened this year in the club so far. But I want to thank the Emami management, they were superb, always supported me and backed my decisions. I don’t have any complain regarding them. They were super excited and hopeful like me before the start of the season, but somehow it doesn’t work in our favour.”

“Regarding the contract extension of the key players I must say there is no confirmation about this from the club till now and you also need to ask this kind of questions to the club management.”

Injury updates

Before the high-voltage clash against Mumbai City FC, East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon gave updates on the availability of Anwar Ali and other key players of the team. A win in this match will be very beneficial for East Bengal’s title winning aspirations this year.

Bruzon stated: “Thank you, for asking a question regarding the game finally. Anwar is fit and ready to play the match against Mumbai. Till now we have all the players in the team who are fit and raring to go, but we will decide the playing eleven and who will travel to Mumbai after our last practice session. Still waiting for Miguel’s decision and then we will decide on the team combination for Mumbai”.

“If Miguel’s suspension gets revoked it will be very good for us. As I have already told it was very unfortunate and unfair. No decision was taken against the assistant coach of Bengaluru, so let’s see and wait for the decision, he also added.”

Gameplan and Strategy against the Islanders

Oscar Bruzon and his Red and Gold Brigade will be going to face Mumbai City FC in an away fixture in the Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, which might decide East Bengal’s fate in the league and is very crucial for the Moshal Brigade to remain in the hunt. Before that, Oscar shared his gameplan against the Islanders.

The Spanish Gaffer said: “Mumbai is in a similar situation like us, a do-or-die situation. They also need to win all of their games from here on. They have a very good batch of Indian players. Their wing play is very effective and can create build ups from the counter. Their defence line is also quite compact. Mumbai is one of the contenders of the league this year again. When Mumbai play in their home they attack mostly from their wings and utilizes their midfield very well. So we want to focus on this areas. And as I have said already we are a different team after the 70th minute of the game as you have seen that in the last three matches. So we want to emphasize on this and strategize against Mumbai.”

“I will not disclose all the gameplans here in the press-conference. But yes Mumbai is a very good team. They started the season really well like us. They play with open wingers, sometime get help from their full backs. They depend on their counter attacks, midfielders as well. They also have some injury concerns but again have some quality players like Chhangte, Brandon who are playing for a long time in the club. They have some weaknesses on their build ups, transitions, so we will try to focus on those, build our strategies accordingly, analyze, and wait for their mistakes.”

Jerry clears his resolution

Jerry Mawihmingthanga who came to East Bengal before the start of the ISL season this year from Odisha FC, made his debut for the Red and Gold Brigade in the last match against his former side Odisha FC. Jerry cleared his resolution for rest of the season ahead of the all-important clash against the Islanders.

Jerry stated: “First of all I want to thank all my coaching staff, the management and my family for the constant support and keep believing in me. And for the rest of the season, I want to give my best for the team, so that we can bring out more such positive results for East Bengal and win more matches for the club, he finished off with.”

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