East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas expresses satisfaction after dominant victory over Churchill Brothers in ISL 2026-27
East Bengal begin title defence with 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers in Goa.
East Bengal completed a dominant victory over their Goan rivals with a comfortable win. Bipin Singh scored a late brace, while Dani Ramírez and Edmund Lalrindika found the net in the first half to secure all three points for the defending ISL champions.
Dramane Salou fouled Dani Ramírez, who then curled the ensuing free kick into the top-left corner to take the lead. The Red & Gold Brigade dominated the 48th encounter between the clubs throughout the competitions; however, Churchill Brothers had opportunities to bounce back and make a comeback.
After David Lalhlansanga’s assist, Edmund Lalrindika scored from the centre of the box to double the lead just before halftime. Despite some difficulties, particularly in the first half, the back line, led by Prabhsukhan Gill, remained strong and recorded a clean sheet.
The half-time introduction of Bipin Singh for Rohit Danu paid off late rather than immediately. He scored a curling effort from outside the box in the 85th minute and a close-range finish in the 90th, assisted by PV Vishnu, to turn a controlled win into a rout
It was a good day at the office for Antonio Habas and Co. The Red and Gold Brigade kicked off their 2026–27 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign under their new head coach with a statement 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers in Fatorda Stadium,Goa on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
After a dominant victory over Churchill Brothers, East Bengal FC head coach Antonio López Habas and forward Edmund Lalrindika addressed the media.
Here is the post-match press conference of East Bengal FC following their victory over Churchill Brothers in their opening match of the ISL 2026–27 season in Goa.
Habas on the importance of the win and the performance of his team
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East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas expressed his satisfaction after the positive start to their new ISL campaign and said how important it is for every team to win their first match to begin an important tournament.
Habas stated: “It was very challenging out there against Churchill. And it’s important to start with a win in a tournament like the ISL. I am very happy with the performance of my players, and we need to continue this show against Inter Kashi in our next game.”
“Training and working hard every day and working every day and collaborating with the players. If the players want, everything is possible. If the players don’t want to, it’s impossible. So that’s the main thing, he also added.”
Habas Comments on Areas for Improvement and Missed Chances
Habas addressed the missed opportunities and explained how his team could improve in the upcoming games after the Red and Gold Brigade outclassed Churchill Brothers 4-0 in their ISL 2026–27 opener in Goa.
The Spaniard stated: “Sometimes, it’s normal because when you can score four goals, maybe you have six, seven or eight chances that go wasted.”
“I think there is scope for improvement in many areas ahead of the next game. We have to keep moving forward and maintain this momentum against Inter Kashi in our next match, too. This match is behind us. We must focus on the positive aspects and correct the mistakes.”
“Now, we have two matches coming up in quick succession. We have the ISL match against Inter Kashi, followed by the AFC match, which is very important for us. Maybe we will have to rotate the players because playing three matches in four days is not normal.”
“We have had three months of pre-season, the Durand Cup, the IFA Shield, AFC matches, and a lot of travelling as well. So, we have to give our players rest and rotate the squad. Maybe the objective is to rest and compete. Rest and compete.”
“I am very satisfied with this 4-0 performance. It is very important, not only because of the scoreline but also because of the team’s organisation. We dominated the spaces and controlled the ball. That is very important.”
“The team’s performance in transition was also very good. I am very happy with that, but we have to continue playing like this. Now, I am thinking about the next match.”
“The Churchills are a very difficult team because they are always fighting and playing aggressively, with a positive attitude. They always believe in the score. It is very difficult to win physical duels. Winning the second balls was our priority. If we wanted to win the match, we had to win the duels and the second balls. Today, I think we did well,” he concluded.
Edmund on his performance and experience in AFC competitions
Edmund Lalrindika reflected on his performance after East Bengal FC secured a thumping 4-0 victory over Churchill Brothers to begin their ISL 2026–27 title defence in Goa on Sunday.
Edmund stated: “I’m very happy for the team. We won the match, and I think full credit goes to the team. We followed the coach’s instructions and played accordingly. We are really happy. I also scored my first goal.”
“But for me, that’s not the most important thing. The team always comes first. We won the game, and we need to build on this performance. We are already focused on the next game.”
“It’s a big challenge for me because playing in the AFC competition and representing India is a big opportunity. It gives us a lot of confidence for our Indian Super League campaign. For me, it’s a really good experience. I think you can also see how confidently we played in the game,” Edmund concluded.
How many goals did East Bengal score?
East Bengal scored four goals against Churchill Brothers in their opening match of the 2026–27 ISL campaign in Goa on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Who scored the goals for East Bengal?
Dani Ramírez, Edmund Lalrindika and Bipin Singh scored for East Bengal, with Bipin netting a brace.
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