East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat underscored the significance of bagging all three points after his side secured a 3-1 victory against Downtown Heroes FC in their second match of the ongoing Durand Cup in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Notably, with consecutive wins in the opening two fixtures, the Red and Gold Brigade has reached the summit of Group A, ahead of the deciding group-stage fixture, the Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Ahead of that clash, East Bengal FC will play against Altyn Asyr in the ACL 2 preliminary stage at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 14.

Cuadrat's men showed their offensive prowess as they displayed numerous attacks from the offset. Despite creating several offensive moves, the Red and Gold Brigade failed to register a big-margin win. However, Madih Talal's inch-perfect free kick, Saul Crespo's precise strike from the spot, and Jesin TK's brilliant 93rd-minute goal propelled East Bengal FC to register back-to-back wins in the tournament.

Speaking to indiansuperleague.com after the game, Cuadrat emphasised the importance of notching another victory.

"Football is all about results," the Spaniard said.

"It has been a difficult game. I see that, until the end, we didn’t get the two-goal difference,” he added.

"Winning a game by just one goal difference — anything can happen in a football game. So, it is important that we get the result. Now, we aim to prepare for the two important games in the next week," he continued.

The Red and Gold Brigade created plenty of chances throughout the game, both from open-play and set-piece situations, but could not capitalise on their efforts. However, Cuadrat didn't seem anxious about his players’ missing chances; rather, he prioritised making numerous offensive moves.

When quizzed about whether he is worried about missing chances, Cuadrat commented,

"No, the important thing is to create chances."

Speaking in this regard, the Spaniard underlined the involvement of their developmental players who proved their potential coming from the bench by saying,

"Also, we’ve finished playing with four players who are going to play with the B team in the Calcutta Football League in two days. It means it’s a learning process for them."

"They have taken advantage of the opportunity to play for the first team. We have to protect some players because they are in pre-season. So, we preferred to use young players. They have been creating chances and doing good things. So, we have to be happy," he explained.

Despite securing the maximum points from the first two matches, East Bengal FC have failed to register a clean sheet in both matches.

Cuadrat remarked, "Yes, it’s true. In both matches, the opponent created one or two chances, and they scored. This is something we have to improve."

The most important is the result: Madih Talal

Madih Talal has been instrumental in East Bengal FC securing consecutive wins. The French playmaker won the 'Player of the Match' accolade twice in successive games.

Talal, who provided an assist in the previous match, scored his first goal for the Kolkata-based club with an outstanding free-kick from the edge of the box against Downtown Heroes FC.

On getting consecutive wins, Talal said,

"Good start. The most important (thing) is the result for the team and getting ready for the next game."

After marking his presence felt on Indian soil with his dazzling playmaking abilities at Punjab FC, Talal joined East Bengal FC during the summer transfer window. Adapting quickly to a new setup and different dynamics, Talal has become the hub of creativity for the Kolkata side with his offensive versatility.

While quizzed about his thoughts on his performances in the first two matches, Talal remarked, "I’m happy. But the important thing is not to be the ‘Man of the Match', but to win."

"I train to help the team. It’s good for the team if I can score or give an assist," he added.

Talal urged his teammates to improve their game ahead of the crucial knockout fixture in the AFC Cup qualifiers, as he is determined to deliver another standout performance in the forthcoming match.

"Before Derby, we have an AFC game. The most important (thing) is to focus on the next game," he said.

"We have to improve everything. If you want to be competitive in every competition, you have to work on everything, both offensively and defensively," he signed off.