Tomorrow is Season's third Kolkata Derby. The red and gold have won both the Durand Cup and Kolkata League derbies. Now comes the IFA Shield. This derby is special because if East Bengal wins, they will lift the trophy. Winning both the Kolkata League and the IFA Shield in the same season would be a big deal. There's a feel-good atmosphere within the team ahead of the match. Before the match, East Bengal assistant coach Bino George came to the press conference and took indirect digs at the opposition.
East Bengal assistant coach Bino George attended the pre-match press conference, with no players present. There, he was asked questions about his team as well as the opposition. Speaking about the opponents, Bino was both attacking and defensive. He said his team is ready. Every player is fit. The opposition is the best team, but they are also prepared to play well. He himself has just won the Kolkata League, and now, though he won't be in the coach's hot seat, he will sit in the assistant coach's position. He was asked whether he would share his league-winning experience with coach Oscar Bruzon. In reply, he said, “We are ready for tomorrow. The head coach and all of us will have a meeting, we want to win with Oscar.”
East Bengal had a closed-door training session at Yuva Bharati the day before the match. The red and gold camp alleged that East Bengal's training was video recorded from a hotel located beside the stadium. The club also shared that video. Bino George said it all depends on sportsmanship spirit. Though he didn't directly name Mohun Bagan, he gave a lesson on sportsmanship spirit. However, Mohun Bagan has not commented on this video.
