East Bengal will want to get back to winning ways when they host Gokulam Kerala FC in an I-League encounter at the Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday.
But scoring remains a concern for East Bengal. In the last game they tasted their first defeat of the league against Churchill Brothers.
East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia hopes his players will create chances and convert them. “This happens in football. We must create chances. I am focusing on that.
“If you create chances goals will come. Our target is to get three points from the game,” the coach said.
“This will be a very even game. It will also be a very tough game. We need to do well to win. Gokulam Kerala are a strong team with a good squad. But we are good too. The game will be tough.”
Two East Bengal players, Kassim Aidara and Marti Crespi, are on three yellow cards and if any one of them get one more against Gokulam Kerala, he will have to miss the Derby against Mohun Bagan, which is schedule to be played on Sunday.
That has been a cause for concern for Alejandro. “It concerns me of course. It is a situation we have to manage. This is something that could have been avoided. But we will manage that,” he said.
East Bengal are banking heavily on Jaime Santos, to get the desired result against Kerala outfit.
On the other hand, Durand Cup champions Gokulam Kerala, who also lost the last game against Chennai City, would want to bring about a change in fortunes in this game.
Fernando Andres Santiago Varela, head coach, Gokulam Kerala said: “East Bengal are always a strong opponent. We will do our best to win.”
Meanwhile, East Bengal roped in Edmund Lalrindika from Bengaluru FC on loan.