East Bengal FC head coach Oscar Bruzon commended his players’ collective fighting spirits despite suffering a narrow 0-1 defeat against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the reverse fixture of the Kolkata Derby in the Indian Super League (ISL) in Saturday’s double header.

Jamie Maclaren’s early goal broke the deadlock in the high-octane clash, giving a crucial lead to the Mariners. The Red and Gold Brigade created a couple of chances in the first half through PV Vishnu and Cleiton Silva, but a resolute defense line led by Alberto Rodriguez and Tom Aldred denied the visitors from getting the equalizer.

East Bengal FC were down to ten men as experienced midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti conceded his second yellow card in the 64th minute. Despite that, Bruzon’s men managed to create a couple of offensive moves but were denied by Vishal Kaith, who recorded another clean sheet in the Kolkata derby for Mohun Bagan SG.

The Red and Gold Brigade shifted to a three-man defense, with Vishnu and Nishu Kumar as overlapping full-backs. Despite conceding an early goal, Bruzon's tactical approach successfully neutralized the Mariners' attacking threat, limiting the hosts to just four shots on target.

The East Bengal FC head coach believed that they were successful in preventing Mohun Bagan SG from dominating the game, cutting down the threatening runs of Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco from both flanks.

“I think that the game plan worked perfectly, except for the last part of the game when the game was open; we blocked them in all the areas. I think that we stopped all the gaps, especially on the wings, making it a difficult game for both Manvir (Singh) and for Liston (Colaco), who are the players that like to have space,” Bruzon said in the post-match press conference.

“In the center of the pitch with the three center-backs and the three midfielders, they (MBSG) were not dominating the game. They were not creating big chances, let's say. So I repeat, I think this is the way to keep moving forward. I understand that the result is not the result that we desire or that we wanted before the game, but the reality is that I have to praise my players because they made a huge effort, and even with 10 men, we were having our chances, especially in set pieces in the last part of the game,” he continued.

Hector Yuste couldn’t track Maclaren’s clever run behind East Bengal FC’s defense line, who pounced on Asish Rai’s inch-perfect cross, resulting in the opener in favour of Mohun Bagan SG. While speaking about conceding the goal, Bruzon acknowledged that individual mistakes cost them points again but backed his players to come good.

“I have to be on the side of my players always, in the good times and in the bad times,” he shared.

“I said it in the last game, and I have to say it again. Unfortunately, I need to repeat. When we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. However, individual mistakes are something that is out of scope. It's been crazy. It can happen one day, but when it starts to happen, game after game, it's a worry for me. It's really a worry, because we are not finding the solution, and we are repeating the same mistake,” Bruzon analyzed.

David Lalhlansanga, who was on the scoresheet against Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC in recent matches, was handed a start in the Kolkata Derby.

While speaking on his decision to go with Lalhlansanga instead of experienced Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar, Bruzon answered, “The derby is not only about experience. It's about recent performances. So, adjusting and analyzing the rival. We started today the game in a very well-defined 5-3-2.”

“I think that things were working well. And in particular, David, for me, he did a super game. He emptied all his deposit of fuel. He was jumping, and he was the player making the Mohun Bagan SG center-backs go deeper, which allowed Cleiton (Silva) and Jeakson (Singh) to have, in some moments of the game, control of the central areas. So, I think that the decision of the first eleven was right. The system was right,” Bruzon signed off.