Robbie Fowler: Every step we take is for the benefit of the club

Fowler feels both teams are in similar situations right now in the league.

SC East Bengal will be hoping to kickstart the new year with their first win in the Indian Super League when they take on wooden spooners, Odisha FC. Ahead of the fixture, head coach Robbie Fowler spoke at length on various topics at the pre-match press conference.

Speaking about the how the club and the players have progressed, Robbie Fowler said, "I think we have progressed well.

“We all know what happened at the start of the season and we had to build on the squad and I think in terms of the progress we have got better with every single game. We found it difficult because we were playing catchup, we were trying to train but obviously, in between games it was hard to get the players what we wanted to do because the games were coming thick and fast,” he added further.

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Fowler on the road ahead for the team

"The more games we play, the better we will become,” he said, before adding: “It is also a case of getting a little bit longer as the coaching team to get our points across but the lads have done really well certainly in the last couple of weeks.

“There are lots and lots of positives, yes we have not won a game but we have lost one in four matches. So, the positives are there and we are taking the right steps, every step that we are taking is for the benefit of the club," he continued highlighting the positives amidst the tough time.

Thoughts on areas that need improvement

The Red and Golds have been one of the busiest clubs in the winter transfer window as they have already brought in several players to strengthen the squad. When questioned about the areas he would like to improve, Fowler added, "I think as a manager I want to make every area better, that means if players are available and if they can come in then great but if not then we work with what we have got. 

“We will make the players better in the areas where we need them at so that we as a team are growing and progressing every single day. I think every single area on the pitch is a chance for the players to get better and progress. So, instead of saying one particular area why not do it all? We are ambitious and as a club, we should be and we want to make every area better."

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Thoughts on new foreign signing Bright Enobakhare

SC East Bengal recently roped in their seventh foreign player in Bright Enobakhare. The Red and Golds desperately needed a foreign number striker and with Enobakhare, they have a youngster who has played for clubs like Wolves, Wigan, etc. The former Brisbane Roar tactician also revealed the challenges the team has had to look for an ideal seventh foreigner. 

"We have been looking for the seventh foreigner for a long time. It was tough getting players in with the quarantine, isolation and getting them to this environment. So, when you are trying to sell that to a player it is very difficult but Bright was on board straight away. We had a perfect conversation and he understood everything that was needed and everything that we wanted from him. He is a very intelligent player and I won't say that he is that architectural number 9 who will get a lot of goals but he is someone who can open up defences. He is skilful and has got quick feet and will certainly going to add something to this squad and we are quite lucky to have him."

Challenges to select his starting XI with Enobakhare's arrival

Now with Enobakhare's arrival, team selection will be all the more difficult for the former Liverpool striker. He now has to make decisions of dropping one of the foreigners. However, Robbie Fowler feels that it is a headache that every coach would like to have as the foreign players are here to elevate the level in and around them. 

"Well, we wanted these seven players to come in and make things difficult for me. Now I have a decision to make whereas in the last seven games I did not have that option. So now it is a little bit of a headache but it is a healthy headache.

He further added, “It is something that we should be doing at this club anyway and as a manager who should be wanting to field all the good players on the pitch. As far as I am concerned, we have seven really good foreign players who can make this team a little better and can also make the players around them a little better as well."

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Thoughts on Odisha FC and Stuart Baxter

Lastly, the Liverpool legend shared his thoughts about Odisha FC and how he feels that both the clubs are in similar situations. He also lauded his compatriot Stuart Baxter and feels that it will be a tight match between two teams looking for their first win this season. 

"I think they have had a tough time, probably similar to us and at times they have played good football. I have spoken about the managers in the league in the past and Stuart Baxter is a great manager. His reputation is incredible to where he has been and situations he has been at. He is a great manager and he has got a relatively young team with a little bit of experience. 

"They are very similar to us, played good at times and faltered at times in terms of giving goals away in silly areas or individual errors. We want to make a good game and we have already seen in the league that any team can beat anyone. So, it is an opportunity for both the clubs to go out there and get those three points and it is a case of who wants it more. Our lads really want it and we want to go out there and put the best performance," Robbie Fowler concluded.

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