After five consecutive losses, East Bengal FC is facing Odisha FC in the current Indian Super League. They will enter the field for the first time under the training of new coach Oscar Bruzon. He reached Kolkata early in the morning on the day of the last match and went to the stadium to watch the team's match that afternoon. He practiced for two days after that. He knows very well that it is not possible to bring radical changes in the party in such a short time. So he started solving the team problems one by one as quickly as possible.

The new coach of the red-yellow department is also asking for time for this. Bruzon has understood that the new challenge is quite difficult. However, he did not forget to inform that his real goal is to be in the top six. “So far I have only been able to train twice with the team,” Oscar said while addressing reporters after training on Monday morning before flying to Bhubaneswar for Tuesday's match. Even yesterday I entered the field with those players, who did not play in the derby. I practiced with everyone for the first time today. Explained to everyone, what the team wants from them now. They seem to be slowly realizing it.

“We've got to press harder and counter press,” says Oscar, listing what they need to do now. The game should be more intense. We need to play more organized football. The pace of transition in defense needs to be increased. The gap between themselves should be further reduced. In previous matches, the opposition had given us problems controlling the midfield, attacking on the wings and cracking our defence. It cannot be allowed to happen this time. This time we want to succeed. But it is not for the coach's plan, but for the skill of the players. They have to understand that they have no other option. We need to have a tendency to get positive results”.

Next up for them on Tuesday is Odisha FC, who have won just one of their last four matches. They are currently bottom of the league table with two losses and a draw. Last year, as the coach of Bashundhara Kings, Oscar led the team to two matches against Odisha. “Last year we won at home and lost to a set piece goal,” he said of the opposition from that experience. So I know their strengths and weaknesses to some extent. I practiced with them then, I did it this time too. They are quite a strong team. Their foreigners quickly attacked with wings. I saw this in the last match as well. But we are confident of changing our mindset and putting up a good fight. We have not won a match so far. Maybe this time I will be able to play to win.”

Less time on hand. So Oscar wants to stop scoring first. He said that solving the problem of attacks is second in importance. He said, “If you look at the statistics of the last few matches, you will see that East Bengal has created more chances than the opponent. But not scoring. This is where we need to make amends. We have to be more active in front of the opponent's goal. It may not be fully brought up now. However, we have to reduce the number of goals by increasing the activity and concentration in defense. I am preparing in such a way”.

East Bengal's new Spanish coach, who had his first full practice on Monday, said, “One day of practice was good enough. The players seem to understand what they have to do. But honestly, it's a process that will take time to succeed. But with the current state of the club, we don't have much time. We need to win a few games in a row to quickly get back on track and finish the league in the top six. I am not ruling out that possibility. If we are confident, if we can maintain that confidence and trust, then we can deliver the results that the club wants.”

Questions are being raised about the mental state of the players of the Red-Yellow Army, about which their coach said, “Footballers cannot rest in peace after losing seven matches in a row. This is normal. So I don't think anyone in the team is mentally well, I can't let them stay well in this situation. Their mental problems should be removed. Conviction, desire, mentality, hunger these should be increased”.

Questions are also raised about fitness. Oscar explained about this. He said, “We have to do a lot of work. Fitness is essential to increase the intensity of the game. But if we start overworking the players while increasing fitness, then the real objective will not be achieved. In that case, the work of increasing fitness should be done so that the opponent cannot take the physical advantage in every match. This is what happened in the Mohun Bagan match. I don't want the boys on the team to get tired after playing some intense football. They have to play the entire match with equal pace and rhythm. They have to make it that way.”

For now, he just wants to look ahead. Telling this, red-yellow coach Saf said, “Now I don't want to look back. I don't want to think or talk about the loss in the last seven matches, about the problems of the team. The Odisha match is like a final for us. This match is our big test. After tomorrow's match we have the AFC Challenge Cup ahead of us, where we will have the chance to represent the country. So for the next 11 days, I want to think only positive thoughts, I don't want to think about any negative aspects. Now just thinking about the solution. All problems have solutions. Hope you will understand some of it tomorrow”.