East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat is eager to deliver standout performances this season, building on his success from the previous year when he reignited the passion of the club's dedicated supporters.

Cuadrat, who returned to the Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2023–24 season, previously led Bengaluru FC to an ISL Cup victory in the 2018–19 season.

Since joining the ISL, the Red and Gold Brigade has struggled to break into the top six. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs last year, the Kolkata-based club displayed their potential and resilience in cup competitions. 

In an interview with tribalfootball.com, the Spanish head coach discussed his journey with East Bengal FC, his views on Indian football, and more.

The 55-year-old also reflected on the rich legacy of the century-old iconic club and his experience in the Kolkata derby, which is one of the oldest rivalries in Asian football.

“Yes, East Bengal FC are one of the most historical clubs in the region and have a long history of great success. There is a big rivalry with the other club in the city, called Kolkata. Our city is a city of football because there are different clubs here,” the head coach said.

Cuadrat led the Red and Gold Brigade to two finals in his debut season and clinched the Kalinga Super Cup by defeating Odisha FC, ending their 12-year trophy drought. Under the Spanish head coach's guidance, East Bengal FC have shown a significant resurgence and a strong commitment to reclaiming their former glory.

"The club called me and hired me with the clear project of making the club successful again, as it deserves and as the fans of this club deserve. We created an important project with the club; we bought the players necessary for us, and in my first season, we won an important cup,” he stated.

East Bengal FC will face Turkmenistan's FC Altyn Asyr on Wednesday in the inaugural AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage match. A victory would see them advance to the group stages of the AFC Champions League Two, where they would join arch-rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have already secured their qualification.

"So it means we are going to play in the Asian competition (this season), and this is very important for the club because it is a great and historical one and has been out of the competition for nine years. So it is very important for us that we represent India on the continent and make our fans proud. Now we are in our second year of the project and we expect that we can increase our competitive level and make our fans proud again," Cuadrat said.

Having worked in India for quite some time, Cuadrat has developed a clear understanding of Indian football. Hailing from Barcelona and a former La Masia graduate, he has closely observed the rise of emerging talents.

Commenting on the role of the ISL in advancing Indian football, Cuadrat remarked, “It is very important for the country to have a clear project, and the Indian Super League has brought that clear project.

"To make the next step, you have to invest that kind of money, that kind of energy, and that kind of work during the next 20–30 years in order to achieve something important. I can see the evolution in the national team; the players are more physical, have better technique, and have better knowledge of the game, but it takes time and a lot of patience.

"But I am sure if things continue in the same way they are now and people have patience, then results will come for the Indian national team in the future. Because projects and plans need a lot of work to be successful," Cuadrat further added.

Before transitioning to India, Cuadrat worked alongside Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard with the Saudi Arabia national football team and served as a conditioning coach at Galatasaray and Barcelona U-18.

Reflecting on his extensive experience across various footballing environments, the head coach shared, “Trying different experiences in different countries helped me a lot as a coach because I learned different football cultures and philosophies. In India, I had the opportunity to become a head coach, and I really appreciated that the clubs here trusted me so we could together achieve some important results.”

The success with East Bengal FC marks Cuadrat's second achievement in India, following his previous success with the Blues. Bengaluru FC was the first club where the Spaniard served as head coach, allowing him the freedom to implement his own strategies and ideas.

Speaking in context, Cuadrat said, "I won the ISL Cup in 2019 with Bengaluru FC, and now last season I won the Super Cup with East Bengal FC.

"Finally, in India, I became a champion coach, so for me, it’s the most beautiful experience because I was taking the last decision and trying to fix things, and instead when you are an assistant coach, there are good moments, of course, but in the end, it’s another person who makes the decision. So it is a great moment of enjoyment for me that I was the person who made Bengaluru FC win the first ISL title and made it possible for East Bengal FC to win a cup after 12 years," he remarked.

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East Bengal FC2023-2024 Carles Xiques Caudrat