East Bengal chase their first AFC Champions League Two victory as Rashid urges teammates to treat the Al Seeb clash as final.
East Bengal FC returned to the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday, November 3, with an important AFC Champions League Two fixture against Oman’s Al Seeb. With no victories to their name in the competition so far, the Red and Gold Brigade will be eager to turn their home advantage into a much-needed result. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:15 PM IST.
The two sides played out a goalless draw in their previous meeting in Oman, despite both creating opportunities to find the net. Now, with the return fixture coming just five days later, East Bengal have little time to dwell on missed chances. For Mohammed Rashid and his teammates, the immediate task is clear: get the job done at home and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Rashid wants East Bengal to treat Al Seeb clash as a final
East Bengal captain Mohammed Rashid understands the importance of the upcoming fixture. With qualification for the next stage still a possibility, he believes the team cannot afford to take its attention away from the immediate challenge.
Speaking ahead of the match, Rashid made it clear that the squad must approach every remaining fixture with the right mentality, starting with Al Seeb. “The mentality is that it starts tomorrow as a final game. You don’t look at the next game that happens. It is just tomorrow first, because tomorrow is really the final game,” Rashid said.
The midfielder also reflected on East Bengal’s inability to convert their opportunities in previous matches. He felt that creating chances is only one part of the job, and the players must remain composed when opportunities arrive in front of goal.
According to Rashid, football can sometimes be cruel, with luck and the opposition goalkeeper playing their part. However, he insisted that the team must learn from those moments rather than allow missed chances to affect their next performance.
“With two goals, you expect to win the game. Obviously, that didn’t happen. So, you just have to focus on what is coming next. You have to get better in whatever position you are in,” he explained.
The captain also pointed out that every player has a responsibility towards the collective effort. Rather than placing the burden on one individual, Rashid believes the entire squad must contribute and follow the coach’s instructions to get the desired result.
Recovery and squad unity key as East Bengal prepare for Al Seeb
The short gap between fixtures has also made recovery an important part of East Bengal’s preparations. With regular travel and limited time on the training ground, Rashid admitted that the players have had to focus heavily on managing their physical condition.
“We don’t have enough time to train. We don’t have much time between games. We travel a lot. It’s not easy. It’s just a matter of taking care of our bodies outside of training. This is where most of the work is actually being done,” he said.
Rashid also spoke about the importance of squad understanding, particularly with players bringing different qualities to the team. He believes that individual strengths must come together for East Bengal to perform as a unit.
“There is no comparison. Each player brings whatever strengths that they can bring to the team. It’s not about how many players are in the team. It’s just about the whole squad. Every player brings his strengths,” he added.
Meanwhile, East Bengal head coach Antonio Habas will be looking for greater precision in the final third. The Spanish tactician believes his side have competed well but need to make their attacking opportunities count. The goalless outings in the previous AFC fixtures have highlighted an area that requires immediate improvement.
Al Seeb, on the other hand, arrive in Kolkata knowing that a draw will not be enough for their qualification ambitions. Head coach Jiri Chytry has indicated that his side will look to take the initiative, while also being prepared to make tactical adjustments depending on how the contest unfolds.
For East Bengal, the equation is straightforward but the task will not be easy. They need to turn their performances into results, and Tuesday’s encounter could prove crucial in determining the direction of their continental campaign. Rashid has already set the tone by calling it a final. Now, the team must deliver on the pitch.
Habas and Rashid at Pre Match Press Conference
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