East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat was pleased with the three points but exercised caution after his team’s victory against Hyderabad FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, in Kolkata, on Saturday.

Hyderabad FC opened the scoring early on through Hitesh Sharma, but his goal was soon cancelled out by Cleiton Silva. Silva scored a terrific free-kick in stoppage time to secure his side’s first win of the ISL season.

Cuadrat was happy with the three points, but said he was aware of how difficult the game was going to be against Hyderabad FC. He further warned his team to be cautious about fine margins, which could decide games.

“It was a game with not a lot of chances. Our team created more chances the other day. But this is football. Hyderabad FC is used to being competitive with very narrow margins. Last season, in a lot of games they finished 1-0. The players knew that they had to manage that kind of result. Now, with the new rules that are happening, lot of games are around 100 minutes. So we were focused that anything could happen. It's true that a set-piece can change anything and it was a moment of brilliance with Cleiton scoring that wonderful goal. We are celebrating these three points but we have to be conscious that narrow margins are always here in the ISL,” Cuadrat said in the post-match press conference.

Cleiton Silva started off the bench in East Bengal FC’s opener against Jamshedpur FC, where the two sides played out a goalless draw. He was handed a start against Hyderabad FC and showed his goalscoring prowess, propelling the hosts to a comeback win. Cuadrat, who previously worked with Silva at Bengaluru FC, said his competitive nature is an example for his teammates.

“I brought Cleiton to India. I was the coach that signed him (at Bengaluru FC). He is an incredible, talented player. After Bengaluru FC, he decided to sign with East Bengal FC and I am with him again. We all know what he was doing for the team last season and we expect him to produce the same this season. For the first game that he was in the starting eleven, we all can be satisfied. The team is (performing) in the right way and the captain has shown to our players what it is to be competitive,” Cuadrat further said.