"This is just a point, I know, but this means a lot to us": David Catala opens up after Kerala Blasters draw against East Bengal FC

Kerala halt East Bengal as visitors

Kerala Blasters FC secured their first point of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season after a late goal from Muhammad Ajsal helped them salvage a 1-1 draw against East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.

Kerala Blasters began the match positively and looked threatening in the opening exchanges. The visitors applied pressure in the attacking third and created a few promising situations inside the East Bengal half. Despite the bright start from the Blasters, the hosts were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute when Ezzejjari was brought down inside the box. The Spaniard stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give East Bengal the lead.

Kerala Blasters continued to press for an equaliser and showed good attacking intent as the first half progressed, but the scores remained in the advantage of the hosts. As the match moved into the final stages, East Bengal attempted to manage the game with their slender lead, but Blasters continued to push forward.

Their persistence paid off in the 90+2 minute when a corner delivery into the box found Muhammad Ajsal, who rose to head the ball past the goalkeeper and bring the visitors level. The late goal ensured Blasters returned with a valuable point, opening their account for the season while also demonstrating the team’s fighting spirit.

Following the match, Kerala Blasters FC head coach David Catala addressed the media. Here is a detailed report on the post-match presser of the match between Kerala Blasters FC and East Bengal FC.

Thoughts post-match

David Catala was asked about his thoughts after keeping East Bengal FC to a deadlock and fetching the first point for the Blasters, to which he replied with satisfaction;

“Yeah, it is always a satisfaction to get at least a point. Of course, we wanted to get all three points. Okay, I can not be that I am happy, because the situation we are in is not what we want. But I am really happy or really satisfied with the players, because they are working a lot, suffering, training every day.”

“And today they showed that they will believe till the last minute to at least get a point. I am very satisfied with them, they are really amazing guys, and they deserve, of course, to get more points, and pretty sure that with the efforts they have put in today, things are going to change”

The difference between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal

When asked about what he felt as the difference between the Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the gaffer answered;

“Okay, all the games are different, and we have two of the biggest teams in India, but it’s true that maybe Mohun Bagan have more quality players in front, they have more connections in the last third. But it is also true that East Bengal have amazing players, a good team. But maybe we had to take more control of the ball in the older games (against Mohun Bagan). They (East Bengal) did not press as they pressed other teams, and they let us play better with the ball, and this gave more confidence to go into attack and to have more of the ball”

Message to the Fans

“Yes, always the fans. I always have to say thank you for the support that they are showing at the moment. Some of them, or most of them, came with the disappointment of the situation in which we are, but I always say, this is not an easy moment, for the club, for the team, and we need them more than ever. I hope that we can give them more victories, but I say that this is the way that players are giving their 100 per cent, and we are going to fight, to continue fighting till the end.”

Change in plans in the second-half

Blasters were seen playing more in the left side during the first half. When asked by the media, that whether it was a tactical shift in plan, he agreed stating;

“Yes we knew that we could attack from the left side because we have good players in the attack. But they (East Bengal) played with a different kind of full-backs, and we knew that we could control the middle, we could make some attacks on the flanks. That was our intention; sometimes it happens, sometimes it ,does not, but one of the targets of the game was that”

Is this the turning point for the Blasters

“Yes, we always want to win the games and win three points, like suppose that East Bengal want that as well, and all the teams want to win the games. Finally, we have to be satisfied with this game, how we are coming, the situation that we came from losing at home. Difficult moment, a lot of doubts normally happen, about me, the players, about everything, so this point has to be for us. Something we start to believe, start to build the team again, start to be stronger. This is just a point, I know, but this means a lot to us”

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