East Bengal FC’s hopes of winning the ISL league shield remain alive, according to Oscar Bruzon, despite a frustrating Kolkata Derby draw against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
The Kolkata Derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant ended in a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League.
For generations, the Kolkata Derby has been more than just a football match. It is emotion, identity and history blended into ninety minutes of chaos and passion.
On Sunday night at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, the atmosphere once again reflected the intensity of this rivalry as East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant battled to a 1-1 draw in the Indian Super League. The East Bengal gallery unfurled a massive tifo carrying an emotional message about generations of sacrifice and longing for glory.
Bruzon Remains Confident Despite Dropped Points
Despite the disappointment of not defeating their biggest rivals, East Bengal’s hopes of winning the ISL league shield remain very much alive. Oscar Bruzon’s side are level on points with Mohun Bagan, but East Bengal currently hold the advantage on goal difference. That reality has kept the mood within the club optimistic heading into the final round of fixtures.
After the match, coach Oscar Bruzon remained confident about his team’s chances.
He admitted the derby should have ended in East Bengal’s favour but praised his players for their fighting spirit in one of the most emotionally charged games of the season. Bruzon also acknowledged the criticism directed towards him throughout the campaign, particularly regarding tactical decisions and team selection.
However, he insisted criticism is a natural part of football, especially at a club with the expectations and pressure associated with East Bengal. The Spaniard made it clear that his focus remains entirely on winning the league rather than responding to outside opinions.
Questions Raised Over Team Selection
Even though Bruzon tried to shift attention away from criticism, questions surrounding his starting lineup have become impossible to ignore.
The biggest talking point after the derby was the absence of Youssef Ezzejjari from the starting eleven. The striker has been one of East Bengal’s most important players this season and has already scored 10 goals in the league. Many supporters and football experts struggled to understand why such a key attacking player was left out from the start of the club’s biggest match of the season.
East Bengal created several dangerous chances early in the game but failed to convert them, and critics
One victory in their final match could still be enough to complete a remarkable turnaround season and deliver a major trophy to the club.