Roca calls for better team effort, especially in the offense, and hopes to put the winless run behind

BENGALURU FC head coach Albert Roca spoke conservatively when talking about tomorrow's match against East Bengal. He did not promise a win but expressed confidence that his boys will give their best.

After going 6 matches without a win in the I-League, the defending champions are struggling at 5th spot in the league table. As they host the league leaders East Bengal, Bengaluru FC will have a rare opportunity to turn their form around and pivot themselves back into the title race. And partly helpful to their cause is the fact that prominent Red and Gold striker Willis Plaza is out injured.

But the former Barcelona assistant coach played down the absence of Plaza hinting on the need to focus on team game,

"They have scored a lot of goals. I don't expect the game to be easier without him. We have also suffered in the defence. We don't have John yet... I think we did a good job over the week and tomorrow it's an important task that we face, we'll do our best to get 3 points."

Asked to look into his team's winless streak, Roca blamed it on not getting enough goals despite trying everything and creating a lot of chances,

"We're not getting goals. That's the most important thing in football. We're creating chances... we are making passes and offensive actions... the finishing has not been efficient. We're still working on that but it's not easy. Sunil has always scored but it's not enough to win games. All of us have to be conscious of our roles and try to do our best."

In the first leg at Barasat, East Bengal came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Bengaluru FC. Part of the comeback was fuelled by a vigorous altercation between Sunil Chhetri and Mehtab Hossain, following which the whole BFC team seemed to have lost their rhythm. Remembering that moment, Roca was full of regret but hoped that the worst of the season was behind for the Blues,

"It was the start of our pain. We had control of the situation and suddenly... in football you have to keep calm and everyone knows that but it's difficult when that moment arrives... we did some mistakes and conceded goals. We had a bad time. But it's in the past. We must look forward and not complain... we missed good chances to recover from that but tomorrow is another chance. So we have to put all our efforts towards it."