East Bengal will be up against Churchill Brothers in their first Indian Super League 2026-27 match on Sunday (October 18) at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa.
Churchill, who are in the ISL for the first time, have already started their season with a win against Mumbai City, but ahead of East Bengal's visit, their coach Dimitris Dimitrou has taken a pragmatic approach.
East Bengal hold Advantage, But We Intend to Compete: Dimitris Dimitrou
The Greek tactician insists his team would be ready for the challenge, while stressing that the focus is on East Bengal's entire squad rather than individual players.
"East Bengal have played a lot of professional and official games. So, in terms of games and competitions, they are more ready than us. And this is obvious. We are facing the defending champions, so we are facing a very big
team. But we are going to be ready. Regarding players, I don't think it's time to talk about individual players. If you are a player of defending champions, it means that you are a good player. So we are dealing with the whole squad of the opponent," he said at the pre-match press conference.
The coach also acknowledged that the victory has instilled a lot of belief and momentum in the side, but they want to play more expansive football in the coming weeks.
"Of course, we won our first game and secured three points, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We worked very hard during the week and analysed our performance in detail. I believe we will improve and play better football tomorrow.
"Psychology is a very important aspect of football. Winning games, creating a positive environment and delivering good performances all contribute to the team's mentality. Our opening match in the ISL was extremely important and historic for us, and that victory has helped us look towards the future with greater confidence. We know we will face several strong teams, big names and historic clubs in this championship, alongside newcomers. But, as I have said before, we intend to be competitive," he added.
Anil Gaonkar says 'Churchill are Prepared'
Churchill Brothers right back Anil Gaonkar also attended the press conference, and he stressed that the team is ready for the East Bengal challenge.
"We are well prepared for the match. The coach has explained the tactics and game plan to us, and we are ready to put them into practice on the field," he said.
