East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat was satisfied with the performance of the team as his side drew their Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season opening fixture against Jamshedpur FC at the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata, on Monday. The match ended goalless, with both teams bagging a point each.

East Bengal FC started the game in an attacking manner and created chances throughout the game. However, a solid defensive performance from the Jamshedpur FC ensured that the spoils were shared at full-time.

Speaking at the post match press conference, the Spaniard said, "We are at the start of the season and there are a lot of things to develop but I am quite satisfied with the energy that the team have put in the pitch. We have created some really good chances."

"I think we did what we can to get the three points, also some good places that (in which) we created the space. At the end we have to understand that there is also another team that came with a plan and tried to get a result."

Cuadrat felt that he needed to freshen up his side's defence because of the absence of Lalchungnunga and Jordan Elsey from the squad. While Lalchungnunga is presently part of the Indian national team's squad for the Asian Games, Elsey will be out for a few months after suffering a knee injury.

"We have to improvise the defence because we miss Jordan, we miss Lalchungnunga, so we have to prepare a new defence, not the same defense that have been playing in the Durand Cup."

"I'm satisfied that we got the clean sheet and I think the players have to be positive for the next match," he further said.

The Spaniard did not appear to be too frustrated on the couple of points that his team dropped from their opening game and explained how small margins impact results.

"These things happen in football. You have to be there, in that situation. Things happen very fast. A lot of times it's only some millimetres, centimetres that do not let you score"

Speaking on Cleiton Silva and the time frame of when he will be seen included in the first eleven for the Red and Gold brigade, Cuadrat said that he and his team are working their best to get him up to speed and help him regain his fitness.

"He's getting ready. He arrived very late in the squad. He could only participate for a few minutes in the Durand Cup. Most of our players have played around 700 minutes and he is still at around 300 minutes," Cuadrat said. 

"It takes time to get fit. We have been playing in some friendly matches giving him a lot of minutes and he's working well. He will be ready for the team. When we feel that it is the moment for him to start, he is going to start."