East Bengal are struggling in I-League, but new coach Mario Rivera believes they still have a chance to win the title. East Bengal are now at seventh place with 11 points from nine matches. “Mathematically it is still possible to win the I-League. We will fight for it,” Rivera said on Wednesday.

East Bengal host Aizawl FC at the Kalyani Stadium on Friday.

There is a clamour for off-loading two foreigners. Rivera though doesn’t want to take any quick call.

“We can win the title with this set of players. This is the only country where when a player plays badly in two or three games, everyone wants to get rid of him. It is impossible to keep the same form in all the matches.

“I spoke to my players. I can’t reveal what I have told them. I am confident of a turnaround,” the coach said.

Mario also praised his players’ attitude. “This team has a very good attitude. After two or three practice sessions, we have seen the team is getting a feel of the new things.”

Former coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia did not use forward Vidyasagar Singh much. When asked if he would give the talented youngster a chance, Mario said: “If Vidyasagar can show me he is good, he would defintely get a chance. This is not just for him, the same applies for everyone,” the coach said.

Indian Arrows beat East Bengal 1-0 at the Kalyani Stadium on February 1.

According to Mario it was an aberration. “It was just a bad day in office. If we play against the same opponents 10 times, we would win nine of them”.

Meanwhile, Chennai City FC returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Arrows in Coimbatore. Katsumi Yusa scored in the 49th minute.