The Kolkata Derby result will be forgotten, but the lack of preparation before East Bengal’s AFC Champions League Two campaign could define their entire season.
Kolkata, July 26: The Derby Wasn’t the Biggest Test. The AFC Is.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant may have won the Durand Cup opener 1-0 on 25th July, but the result should raise a bigger question for East Bengal FC than simply losing a Kolkata Derby.
On May 21, East Bengal were crowned champions of India after an incredible spell in Indian Super League. Less than a month later, on June 11, they got confirmation that their AFC Champions League Two campaign would begin on August 12 against Al Qadsia( Kuwait). From that moment, the countdown to continental football had already begun.
After that, the settled team was broken up as the head coach and several players departed. Whether it was due to management issues or because the coach and players decided to leave on their own, the rebuilding process should have started much earlier. It wasn’t only the iconic Durand Cup waiting, which always begins around one and a half months after the end of the season, but the AFC campaign was also knocking on the door.
Every professional club follows a structured pre-season training cycle. Once East Bengal knew their AFC Champions League Two schedule, the objective should have been to build the squad through that cycle so the team peaked for August 12. If the squad entered the Durand Cup still searching for cohesion, it naturally raises questions about whether the preparation cycle began early enough.
The new head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, arrived in Kolkata on July 22, just a few days ago. Only two foreign players are currently with the team, Basim Rashid from the previous season and new signing Dani Ramirez. Several new Indian signings, including Rohit Danu, Rohit Kumar, Danish Farooq, Boris Singh, Purba Lachenpa, and Sandip Mandi, have been with the team for around 20 days.
On May 3, former East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon, who led the club to the ISL title, announced that he would leave after the season ended. He also said that several players had not received any confirmation about their future, so they were also uncertain about what lay ahead.
So, more than 15 days before the end of the ISL season, everyone already knew that the head coach would leave and that several players might also depart. The main concern is why the new signings and the new head coach arrived only a few days ago. Another interesting point is that several newly signed foreign players are yet to join the squad, while the Durand Cup has already started and the AFC match is just 17 days away.
Preparing for Asia should have been the club’s top priority. The “not prepared” argument may work for many clubs beginning a new season. But should it apply to the reigning champions of the country?
The Durand Cup derby may not define East Bengal’s season. But it has exposed how little time this squad has had to build chemistry before its biggest challenge. The concern is not the 1-0 defeat to Mohun Bagan SG. The real concern is whether the reigning Indian champions will be ready when they step onto the AFC Champions League stage on August 12.
Excuses matter little in continental football. Performances do. Until then, let’s tease each other, because what else can we do?
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