ISL 2025-26: "We were going match by match, but this one will be a final match for us", Oscar Bruzon urges East Bengal FC players to take the Inter Kashi clash as a final

East Bengal are current ISL 2025-26 table toppers

East Bengal FC will face off against Inter Kashi, in an away fixture of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on May 21, 2026, at 7:30 PM (IST).

The Moshal Brigade currently holds pole position in the ISL title race. The equation is straightforward for the Red & Gold Brigade, win and they secure their first national league crown in nearly 22 years.

The remaining four contenders, includes the defending ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC, and Punjab FC meanwhile, not only need victories of their own but must also rely on favourable outcomes elsewhere to keep their title dreams alive.

For East Bengal, the objective is very simple: claim all three points, lift the ISL trophy and finally end years of heartbreak for their supporters.

Ahead of the final matchday of the ISL campaign, East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon and one of the front runners for the Golden Boot this year, Spanish forward, Youssef Ezzejjari have addressed the media.

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

Positive words from Oscar Bruzon before final match-day

Oscar Bruzon looked very positive and confident before the final match-day of the season. He is confident that East Bengal can complete this final step and are on the verge of winning the league after 22 years.

Oscar stated: “I am happy and satisfied that finally I can talk about winning the trophy or the title. Last few years were quite difficult for the club. East Bengal had gone through a tough transition period in the last few seasons. But tomorrow, five clubs have the opportunity to win the title but we have the advantage here. We were going match by match, but this one will be a final match for us.”

“The game against Mohun Bagan was a wake up call and lesson for us. We had lost two finals this year on penalties only. I have worked with my strikers and their missed opportunities. We will play with a very positive mind tomorrow. We believe in each other.”

“For the last 22 years, there is no National League title for East Bengal. Inter Kashi have stooped Mohun Bagan, we can talk about many other things. But if we can do our task rightly then we can win the title this time.”

“The boys are very hungry, there is no place of emotions. But a lot of psychological and mental exercise to keep our coolness on the field. We want to carry the momentum, and focus on the final match only. If we do right things, score early goals, be compact in our set-pieces we can win the title, he added.”

Coaching journey at East Bengal

Oscar Bruzon explained his coaching journey at East Bengal and what were the initial difficulties he faced at the club and how he had overcome those hurdles which took East Bengal to the top.

Bruzon said: “My coaching journey has been fantastic here at East Bengal. It includes everyone here, the players, the coaching staff, the fans, the management. Everyone were amazing throughout and because of them, I am here today, and achieved a lot of things so far.”

“I am happy that my message to the club, the fans, and the management was clear and they have understood that. We are currently on the same page, and our mission is also same. So, we are standing at a crucial juncture where we have to be focused and stay humble. If we can do these things correctly, we can achieve our dream together. I am incomplete without my players, the fans, the management and everyone. Because East Bengal is a century old club with a lot of legacy and rich history.”

Gameplan against Inter Kashi

Oscar Bruzon was very clear with his team’s gameplan against a mighty Inter Kashi side, who like to counterattack and be ultra defensive at times. Bruzon thinks positively and just wants to score early goals to put pressure on their opponent on the day.

The Spaniard explained: “We played really well against Mohun Bagan in the last game after the first twenty minutes. The win was completely in our hand until we had conceded one goal from the set-piece. Gill made a crucial save at the last minute. So, we have to be very clinical tomorrow with our approach.”

“I know Inter Kashi had played really well against Mohun Bagan to hold them to a goalless draw. But I don’t think they would be in an ultra-defensive mode. If I am gonna be Abhijit Mondal, their head coach, I would ask my players to attack, as Inter Kashi has nothing to lose from here. They are currently at no. 11, and a win or a draw will not change their position in the league table.”

“For us it’s a must win game, so we would like to score early goals and put some pressure on their defence line. We would like to convert every opportunity we get at the same time we have different plans for their ultra defensive approach and their counterattack tactics as well. But we need to be careful, because when you play against a team which has nothing to lose but want to end their campaign on a positive note, sometimes the opponent may feel the pressure. We are in a more pressure situation, and our goal is completely different than Kashi so, we just want to focus on our game, score goals and win the match.”

Confident approach from Oscar

East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon along with everyone associated with the club have now started believing that they can surely achieve their dream of winning the ISL title this year.

He looked very positive and confident while saying these words to the media.

Oscar said: “If you asked me at the mid of the tournament, I would say I was confident to finish on top six. Then we would be happy for a top four finish. But now I am confident that we can finish the league on a high. I have always believed this team, my players, they are full of confidence and together we can achieve this dream.”

“We played few tough games this season, the game against Bengaluru we played with 10-men, and got one point from that match, even the away match against Mumbai was a tough one, we have defeated them. So we were undoubtedly the best team throughout the season. Lost two finals this season on penalties only. We were a team that compete against any team in India this season.”

“We played well against Mohun Bagan too, so only after that game we all started believing that we can win the title this year. I am happy that this time it completely depends on us, so I don’t want to focus on the decisions of the referee, conditions of Kishore Bharati stadium, just want to focus on our game and want to win the game and the title.”

Message for the East Bengal fans

Oscar Bruzon thinks that the fans of East Bengal FC are so passionate that only because of their belief it was possible for him to take East Bengal from ninth position to the top within a span of one year.

Bruzon explained: “When the team management asked me today about winning the trophy, I told them not to talk about it now, because I believe we need a lot of good luck along with good playing strategies and skills.”

“The amago fans were brilliant throughout the season. So we want to win the trophy for them this season. I would request to them to come tomorrow in large numbers and fill up the stadium. Their support is very important for us.”

“When I came to East Bengal, my first match was a derby against Mohun Bagan. And at that time Mohun Bagan were ahead than us, they were a better team than East Bengal. But I think the fans are now very confident about one thing that we are at par with Mohun Bagan now, even a better side them. This season Mohun Bagan were unable to defeat us like the other seasons.”

“When I came here at East Bengal, I knew that I can’t tell that it will take three years to win a trophy, or the fans will be happy with a top five finish, there is no place of excuses. East Bengal is a club with thousands and thousands of fans, a club with a community, passionate fans, they always likes to believe and just want to win all the trophies. And just because of them we want win the title, they made us understand why it is important as they have gone through so much struggle and heartbreaks over the last 22 years.The club might have many plans after the match but we just want to focus on our game and complete this dream. The coaches who have achieved this feet before me are all part of this club, this special journey, so tomorrow we face a tough opponent, just want to play well those 90 minutes and win the title.”

“The fans need to believe that this team is completely different from the other teams this season. Generation after generation people are supporting this club. East Bengal fans have made us understand that why we need to win the league this year, when they were at the bottom of the table”, he finished off with.

Youssef Ezzejjari is determined to win the title

Youssef Ezzejjari came to East Bengal FC just before the start of the ISL season this year. Just after arriving to the Indian Football circuit, he has become one of the front runners this season to win the ‘Golden Boot’ award this season.

He has already scored 10 goals so far this season, with one match to go. He is slight ahead of Jamie Maclaren of Mohun Bagan SG, who has scored 9 goals so far.

Ezzejjari stated: “I am 100% confident of winning the Golden Boot but want to win the trophy by defeating Inter Kashi. This is my one and only target now.”

“When I came to East Bengal in February this year, just one week before the start of the ISL. East Bengal came back from a wonderful Super Cup campaign. We have very good players, very good amazing support staff, I had acclimatized with the team very well. We just want to win, and complete the dream.”

“I have always tried my best to adapt here in India with the conditions. After arriving here, it was my first target. I had played before in South-East Asian countries, so was quite familiar with the weather conditions here. We are now just one step away to win the title, just want to achieve this milestone, that’s it.”

“This is a final match for us. We will give our 100% on the field and grab all the three points home. We are very much confident about this thing. Inter Kashi will also try to give their best to stop us, like they have done against Mohun Bagan, but we are also ready to face the challenge.”

“We want to stay humble, cool and positive on the field. There is no place of emotions for professional players like us. We just want to win this game, score goals and bring the trophy to the club,he finished off with.”

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