Stephen Constantine, the head coach of East Bengal FC, felt his side deserved a point after they lost against table toppers Hyderabad FC in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 on Friday at the GMC Balayogi Stadium, in Hyderabad, on Friday. Goals from Mohammad Yasir and Javier Siverio in either half ensured Hyderabad FC moved back to the top spot.

As for the Red and Gold Brigade, it was their sixth loss, who now sit in eighth position on the Hero ISL points table. Constantine praised his team for fighting well and said that they deserved something out of such a tough game. He further stated how forward Cleiton Silva had an off day after his miss just before halftime, but also said the boys gave a good account of themselves as he spoke in the post-match press conference.

Here are the excerpts:

What are your immediate thoughts on the match?

I think we did enough and deserved at least a point from the game. Hyderabad FC scored against the run of play, they were very professional in the second half, but we lacked quality in certain areas, and I don’t think we did enough in the second half to take points, but that is football.

I thought the boys fought very well, they gave everything they had, and when you play that well for 55-60 minutes against a team that is in first place, you think you deserve something out of the game. We are disappointed, but the boys gave a good account of themselves.

Did you feel that the chance that Cleiton Silva missed or that was saved by the goalkeeper at the end of the first half changed the flow of the game for you?

The keeper did not save it, the player missed the chance. He (Cleiton Silva) puts it away nine out of ten times, he lost control and the header was a bit heavy, which got away from him. Cleiton (Silva) does not miss those but it happens as he is a human after all. If he scores that before halftime, then it is a different game.