Kolkata : Mohun Bagan may start as the favourites for the derby , but that will not stop the Red and Gold footballers from putting up an inspired performance on Saturday . The footballers along with coach Biswajit Bhattacharya are charged up from inside to settle the scores on the ground . Mehtab Hossain , who have wealth of experience playing in the derby commented ,“ Look , there has been too much talks about Mohun Bagan being the favourites in the derby . They are a good side without a doubt , but derby is played on the ground , not on paper .”
Mehtab’s comment reflected the mood in the East Bengal camp . The club have a history of surprising everyone in the derby , when the chips are down . The Red and Gold footballers are tight lipped on the derby as they will have to play out of their skins to get the better of a strong Mohun Bagan side .
Coach Biswajit Bhattacharya will be wary about injuries to his key footballers . Gurwinder Singh , Cavin Lobo , Lalrindika Ralte , Sehnaj Singh are all ruled out for the derby . Harmonjyot Singh Khabra also looks in doubt for the derby as he has a swelling on his feet . Although the midfielder is hopeful of playing the derby .
Rehenesh TP is all set to make his derby debut . The Keralite has been impressive so far in his two outings for the Red and Gold . Robert and Rahul Bheke will be the two side backs , while the central defence will be marshaled by experienced Arnab Mondal and Bello Rassaq . Coach Biswajit Bhattacharya have still not made up his mind , whether to play Tulunga or Sanju Pradhan on right wing half . While Bikash Jairu is a certainty on the left wing half . Going by the practice session , Biswajit Bhattacharya might field a 4-1-3-2 formation with Mehtab will be used as a blocker in front of two central defenders . U23 footballer Avinash Ruidas will be used as an attacking midfielder . Korean Do Dong Hyun will play as a withdrawal forward along with Nigerian Ranty Martins.
Mohun Bagan coach Sanjay Sen undermined East Bengal’s derby win in Kolkata League yesterday . East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya hit back at his counterpart today after the practice session ,“ I think a derby will always be treated as a derby . You cannot differentiate between an I League and Kolkata League derby . Else you have to change the term “ Derby” for the matches played between the two opponents ”
On being asked whether his side will play for a draw or a win , the East Bengal gaffer sounded optimistic “ I would have loved to get full points in the derby . My target will be not to lose the derby , as it can be damaging psychologically for the forthcoming matches .”
Red and Gold supporters will like to see a repeat of Dong scoring two stunners from freekicks in the Kolkata League derby . But the Korean is believed to have some indifferences with his coach . Biswajit Bhattacharya cleared the confusion with the Korean . “ He got an injury on his left knee while playing in Sk Kamal International tournament in Dhaka . He also has some problem with the hard surface of the club ground . He is not putting his best effort in the practice sessions due to the ground surface , fearing he might get injured again .But believe me he is fully fit to play in the derby .”
The East Bengal coach also indicated that he might get on Sabeeth and Rafique depending upon the match situation . “ No one is counting them . But they can be game changers for my team . You can never write them off .”
East Bengal coach’s strategy can all get jumbled up if French international Bernard Mendy arrive on time for the derby . As of now , the Frenchman does not feature in Biswajit Bhattacharya’s strategy . The East Bengal coach is also undecided who his U’23 footballer will be for the derby ,“ I have three U23 footballers in the side – Samad Ali Mullick , Prahlad Roy and Avinash Ruidas . Anyone of them can play in the derby .”
East Bengal’s assistant coach Sammy Omollo stressed on the importance of stopping Norde and Glenn in the midfield as they can be dangerous near the box ,“We have to cut the supply line in the mid-field itself before Norde and Glen get the ball.”
With a day still to go for the derby , East Bengal fans can only hope for a turnaround in fortunes . After all, history suggests Red and Gold have always fired in a derby when the chips are down .