Manolo Diaz rues defensive lapses following defeat against Odisha FC

The Kolkata-based side lost their second match on the trot despite scoring four goals.

Tuesday was another tough day at the office for SC East Bengal head coach Manolo Diaz. The 10-goal thriller between them and Odisha FC saw the latter win 6-4. Players like Javi Hernandez, Hector Rodas, and Aridai Cabrera were on their absolute best on the night for the Juggernauts.

While the second half substitutions in Daniel Chima Chukwu and Semboi Haokip gave a morsel of hope to the Red and Gold, it was all in vain. Placed at the tenth spot on the points table, East Bengal are still in search for their first win.

Let’s see what Manolo Marquez had to say about his team’s defeat tonight:

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Motivating the players after loss

The mood around the dressing room is bound to take a hit after such a huge loss. While there were positives, not getting the three points will surely impact the players’ psyche. “We played well in the first 30 minutes. This has been our best performance yet in the Indian Super League,” assured Diaz.

On lack of creativity

Amir Dervisevic was given his first start. The Slovenian midfielder couldn’t make a difference while on the pitch, which points to a pressing issue. Apart from him, Diaz doesn’t really have another creative-minded player to bring on. The coach defended his player, saying, “Amir did lose some balls, but he didn’t play bad.”

Options upfront

When the lineups were out, Antonio Perosevic was paired upfront with an unlikely candidate in Darren Sidoel. The midfielder did take his chances and gave his team the lead, but Manolo Diaz' substitute strikers made a case for themselves. Chima and Haokip combined to provide three goals, and looked threatening whenever on the ball.

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“Chima and Semboi played some really good minutes and Darren is a midfielder, but more offensive in style. Yes, there is a possibility that the three players can play together,” hinted Diaz.

On their defensive setup

In their first three matches, the team have conceded 10 goals. Due to this, their leaky defence has been subject to critique and flak. “The defensive responsibilities are on the whole team, and not only the back line.

"Our defensive performance, as a team, was bad tonight. They (Odisha) scored in very simple situations and we gave away the goals quite easily,” Manolo Diaz concluded.

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