ISL: We expect to increase our competitive level this year, says Carles Cuadrat

East Bengal FC head coach Carles Cuadrat is hopeful of increasing the club’s competitive level in the upcoming season of the Indian Super League. The Spaniard had led Bengaluru FC to an ISL Cup victory in the 2018–19 season.

Meanwhile, East Bengal won six out of the 22 matches in the Indian Super League 2023-24 season and ended the campaign in eighth place with 24 points.

It was Red and Gold Brigade’s best season so far in the ISL history. Furthermore, East Bengal FC lifted the Super Cup after beating Odisha FC by 3-2 in a thrilling final contest.

Ergo, Carles Cuadrat was able to get the best out of his players and he would want to continue the good show. 

“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 in an interview with tribalfootball.com.

Under Cuadrat’s tutelage, East Bengal FC has shown significant improvement and they are reaping the rewards. The club ended their 12-year trophy drought when they won the Super Cup in the previous season.

“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 win against FC Altyn Asyr will see them qualify for the group stages of the AFC Champions League Two.

“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.