ISL 2021 -- Chennaiyin FC eye the top of the table in East Bengal battle

After back-to-back victories, Chennaiyin FC will look to extend their unbeaten run in the 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League when they clash with SC East Bengal in their third match at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco, Goa on Friday.

“We have a chance now to make three wins in a row. We need to be better, quicker and need to have good decisions. We need to improve and I believe we will play better. We had a very good start and that is good for our confidence. We need to be more focused for the next games. We need to show respect to every opponent. It doesn’t matter if they concede 10 goals or lose a game, they (SCEB) will try to win the game, especially now,” CFC’s head coach Bozidar Bandovic told the media during the club’s virtual pre-match press conference on Thursday.

The two-time champions CFC started their campaign with a 1-0 win against Hyderabad FC before recording a 2-1 triumph against NorthEast United FC in their second match.

Chennaiyin FC’s experienced defender Narayan Das, who played for Red and Gold Brigade last season, feels his former club is still a good team and can’t be taken lightly.

“We won the first two games. We want to continue that (winning run) and win the third match too. That’s our target,” Das said.

The 52-year-old Montenegrin coach also heaped praises on Marina Machans’s newly-appointed skipper Anirudh Thapa and his leadership, who led the team from the front and struck a brilliant winner on Monday against The Highlanders.

“I chose him as captain as I believe in him and he's a leader. He knows what he needs to do. He has personality and this is his team as he has been playing for this club for many years,” Bandovic said.

Chennaiyin FC have played two matches against SC East Bengal in the league so far with both resulting in a draw.

Artsmith Media Release