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East Bengal Coach De Ridder: We Have Problems In Defence, So I'll Focus On Our Attack
The East Bengal Coach candidly speaks about the problems concerning his team ahead of the Federation Cup...
12-Dec-2009 12:03:11 AM
It’s less than a week left for East Bengal to board the
flight to Guwahati to begin their Federation Cup campaign, and as the days go by the problems seems to heap on East Bengal Coach Philipe De Ridder.
It was learnt that most of his players are away on national duty and are expected to join the East Bengal training for Federation Cup from Monday onwards. Apart from that as many as 6 key players are down in the injury list. Foreigners Abel Hammond and Sreko Mitrovic are also nursing injuries and it is not known whether they would be able to participate in the tournament itself.
Speaking about the problems in the team, coach Philipe De Ridder said, “It is a fact that I do not have my full squad for selection but whatever I have I will fight with that. I have already played in important Calcutta League matches without many key players and managed to win. Similarly I expect my players to put up a brave fight there (Federation Cup) as well.”
The defence has been a major concern for the Red and Gold this season. In the last three matches in the Calcutta League they've conceded as many as four goals. Speaking about this concern, coach De Ridder explained, “I do not have the defenders with me. Saumik is injured; Mehraj and Nirmal are in the National Camp. So there are concerns but I am focusing on my attack. If we can score goals then defence should not be a worrying factor for me.”
A lot of players came on trials during the I-League break, with a few big names like Sanjeev Maria (former Mohun Bagan Defender), Anit Ghosh (Former Mohammedan Defender) and Bijen Singh (Former East Bengal Striker). Speaking about these players, De Ridder said, "I particularly did not like the defenders but Bijen is good. Though he is not into football for quite a while now and he has to work a lot to get back into shape, and only then I will think of signing him.”
It will be interesting to watch what the East Bengal Coach has to say when his players rejoin practice.
Rahul Sengupta
It was learnt that most of his players are away on national duty and are expected to join the East Bengal training for Federation Cup from Monday onwards. Apart from that as many as 6 key players are down in the injury list. Foreigners Abel Hammond and Sreko Mitrovic are also nursing injuries and it is not known whether they would be able to participate in the tournament itself.
Speaking about the problems in the team, coach Philipe De Ridder said, “It is a fact that I do not have my full squad for selection but whatever I have I will fight with that. I have already played in important Calcutta League matches without many key players and managed to win. Similarly I expect my players to put up a brave fight there (Federation Cup) as well.”
The defence has been a major concern for the Red and Gold this season. In the last three matches in the Calcutta League they've conceded as many as four goals. Speaking about this concern, coach De Ridder explained, “I do not have the defenders with me. Saumik is injured; Mehraj and Nirmal are in the National Camp. So there are concerns but I am focusing on my attack. If we can score goals then defence should not be a worrying factor for me.”
A lot of players came on trials during the I-League break, with a few big names like Sanjeev Maria (former Mohun Bagan Defender), Anit Ghosh (Former Mohammedan Defender) and Bijen Singh (Former East Bengal Striker). Speaking about these players, De Ridder said, "I particularly did not like the defenders but Bijen is good. Though he is not into football for quite a while now and he has to work a lot to get back into shape, and only then I will think of signing him.”
It will be interesting to watch what the East Bengal Coach has to say when his players rejoin practice.
Rahul Sengupta
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