East Bengal FC’s young goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, shared his thoughts on their 0-0 draw against Mumbai City FC after getting a valuable point against the unbeaten Islanders, showcasing their defensive resilience and fighting spirit throughout the entire match.

East Bengal FC’s defensive third was promising and indomitable in every single second of the match, as they conceded only two shots on target, absorbing numerous Mumbai City FC attacks. Jordanian centre-back Hijazi Maher emerged as the defensive stalwart to lead his backline against a formidable offensive team, recording 14 clearances in the match (the highest by any player in a single game in the current ISL season), which earned him his first ‘Player of the Match’ award in ISL.

It's the first time in the Indian Super League (ISL) that East Bengal FC has managed to keep clean sheets in three consecutive games. Gill’s presence under the bars gives his team some extra confidence, as the 22-year-old goalkeeper has established his name with the gloves, showcasing his composure and brilliance in every single match for the Red and Gold Brigade.

Gill also had a very impressive outing against the Islanders in Mumbai. With his quick reflexes and fingertip saves Gill was unbeatable under East Bengal FC’s goalpost. His most crucial save came in the 73rd minute of the match when he saved Rostyn Griffiths’s shot from point-blank range with his strong right hand, which helped his team secure a clean sheet.

“We came here (in Mumbai) with a plan. We performed according to our tactics. Everybody worked really hard (tonight). Our main target was to keep a clean sheet,” Gill told indiansuperleague.com.

“I told my defenders not to panic in the last minutes of the game. I asked them to keep focus as we kept throughout the game and not to lose the ball easily. That’s why we got the crucial one point,” he added.

𝕃𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋ℕ𝕀ℕ𝔾 ℚ𝕌𝕀ℂ𝕂! ⚡@SukhanGill01 with a quick reflex at point-blank range!#MCFCEBFC #ISL #ISL10 #LetsFootball #ISLonJioCinema #ISLonSports18 #EastBengalFC #PrabhsukhanSinghGill #ISLMoments | @JioCinema @Sports18 @eastbengal_fc pic.twitter.com/yXrJuOeDUp

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) December 16, 2023

Gill shared that they paid some extra attention to Mumbai City FC’s flanks, and they analysed that the Islanders were sensational through both wings in their last few matches. While sharing their pre-match preparation, he said:

“Before the match, we analysed that Mumbai City FC are very strong through the wings and can make numerous crosses through the flanks. We prepared accordingly and fixed our defenders and midfielders in certain positions. Luckily, we got a better result.”

Gill believes this year the top six race will continue until the last league game, as there is not much difference among all the teams. Speaking in context, Gill stated:

“Our spirit is very good. I think this year, the top-six race will continue till the last game of the league, and the last five matches will be a do-or-die for many teams.”

“All the teams are playing very well, and the race for the sixth position is very close. So, we will try to perform well in every match to get positive results,” he continued.

The Punjab-born custodian anticipates another tough challenge against Odisha FC, as they will host the Kalinga Warriors on December 22.

“It will be a difficult match against Odisha FC,” he said.

“If we go to the national break with a good result, we can fix our spot in the top six, which is our primary target this year. I hope we will play well,” he signed off.