For a third straight season since their introduction to the ISL, East Bengal failed to get into the playoffs making a place in the bottom three again last season. However, the tide seems to be changing for the team after they appointed former league-winning manager Carles Cuadrat and made diligent signings in the transfer window. The Spaniard gave instant success leading the club to the Durand Cup final, their first appearance in a showpiece since 2018.
While their 11-year wait for a trophy remains, the club is dreaming for success again in the new era. Head coach Carles Cuadrat won the ISL trophy in his previous job at Bengaluru FC and took the team to the top of the standings in his maiden season at the club. He will want to repeat the trick with the Red and Golds being a far more high-profile appointment than the predecessors in his role at the club. In this article, going forward we will look at the East Bengal FC 2023-24 squad and ISL 2023/24 season preview.
Previous season performance
East Bengal FC finished ninth in the previous ISL season with only 19 points collected from 20 games. Sharing the same points with Jamshedpur FC, a position below. There was little positive to take from Cleiton Silva and Mahesh Singh being the only sparks for the team. The Brazilian forward also equalled Diego Mauricio and eventual Golden Boot winner Dimitri Petratos for goals scored with 12. He reached the figure without making it to the playoffs and scored winners of the club's occasional victories. On the other hand, Mahesh’s productive individual season earned him a call-up to the national team this year. East Bengal only managed six wins overall and lost 13 times.
East Bengal FC 2023/24 New Signings
IN: Nishu Kumar (on loan), Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Harmanjot Khabra, Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Jordan Elsey (Foreign), Saúl Crespo (Foreign), Javi Siverio (Foreign), Borja Herrera (Foreign), Nandha Kumar Sekar, Mandar Rao Desai, Lalchungnunga, José Antonio Pardo (Foreign), Gursimrat Singh Gill, Gurnaj Singh Grewal, Vanlalpeka Guite, Ajay Chettri (on loan)
OUT: Ankit Mukherjee, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Wahengbam Angousana Luwang, Pawan Kumar, Nabi Hussain Khan, Jordan O'Doherty (Foreign), Alex Lima (Foreign), Charalampos Kyriakou (Foreign), Semboi Haokip, Sumeet Passi, Suvam Sen, Ivan Gonzalez (Foreign), Sarthak Golui (on loan)
The club has gone for more sensible signings because they had the team to use the transfer window normally this year. In the past season, disagreements with investors had clouded team building for the season. It is true East Bengal have gone for a complete reshape of themselves for the fourth consecutive time but have a decent look to them this time. The ISL-winning duo from Hyderabad FC Javi Siverio and Borja Herrera have been brought in to strengthen up the attack and midfield. The pair from Super Cup winners Odisha FC, Nandha Kumar Sekar and Saul Crespo has also been included to increase quality in the respective positions as well. The defence has also undergone changes with last year’s Golden Glove winner Prabhsukhan Singh Gill guarding the posts while his brother Gursimrat Singh Gill, Kerala Blasters teammate Harmanjot Khabra and Nishu Kumar on loan with foreign arrivals Jordan Elsey and José Antonio
Pardo have upgraded the back-four. However, Elsey has been ruled out for the long-term with a knee injury with the club looking for his replacement. Two stars from the U17 India men’s team, Gurnaj Singh Grewal and Vanlalpeka Guite have been made part of the squad.
East Bengal FC 2023-24 Squad
Goalkeepers: Aditya Patra, Julfikar Guzi, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Kamaljit Singh, Ranit Sarkar
Defenders: Harmanjot Khabra, Mandar Rao Desai, Lalchungnunga, Gursimrat Singh Gill, José Antonio Pardo, Mohamad Rakip, Tuhin Das, Athul Unnikrishnan
Midfielders: Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Saúl Crespo, Borja Herrera, Vanlalpeka Guite, Ajay Chettri, Gurnaj Singh Grewal, Mobashir Rahman, Souvik Chakrabarti
Forwards: Javi Siverio, Nandha Kumar Sekar, Suhair VP, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Aman CK. Avishek Kunjam, Cleiton Silva
Head Coach: Carles Cuadrat
Jordan Elsey has been unregistered from the ISL squad due to his injury in the Durand Cup final.
Strength
Bringing in league-experienced players with title success under their belt ticks the requirement needed for a club hoping to go back to its glory days. While attention has been given to all areas on the pitch, the midfield looks more dominant with excellent defensive screener Saul Crespo partnering ball career and provider Borja Herrera. The attack has been bolstered with Javier Siverio and Nadha Kumr joining the ranks already having Cleiton Silva and Mahesh Singh. The goalkeeping department has improved significantly with the addition of Prabhsukhan Gill. Above all, Carles Cuadrat has brought a fighting spirit and mentality into the squad to manage any kind of challenge in the long league season. The team does not look out of ideas anymore in tough situations. Crespo and Khabra could play leadership roles in the team.
Weakness
Although other areas of the team looks decent, the defence will be the headache for East Bengal once again. While the signings are good on paper, the back four is inferior to the rest of the lot. Adding to that, Jordan Elsey’s injury was a huge blow to the team even before the season has started. Not only the Australian is good at commanding his area and being a threat on the set-piece but it also leaves Cuadrat’s men with only one foreigner at the back to rely on. The club is looking for a replacement but is left to see whether they can find an ideal one. Although the full-back area has a lot of experience, none of them are in peak form carrying the risk of old legs giving away at crucial moments.
Prediction
With a resourceful squad and a brilliant tactician in charge, East Bengal will be hopeful of making the playoffs now that six teams can qualify. Anything less than that will be a huge disappointment and will be declared as an unsuccessful season again. The progress the squad has made under Cuadrat has to be rewarded in some form even though winning titles is a far cry for them. Their defensive vulnerability will come into question once more. However, the team did show their mentality by becoming finalists in the Durand Cup and will hope to carry on the positive vibes in the ISL.
