KOLKATA: A buoyant Kingfisher East Bengal is all set to take on Mumbai FC at the Barasat Stadium in Kolkata in the Hero I-League round-15 encounter. The Red and Golds have answered the critics in style as they defeated arch rivals Mohun Bagan comfortably in the second leg of the Kolkata Derby in Siliguri.
Kingfisher East Bengal gaffer, Biswajit Bhattacharya did not accept that he is under any pressure even when they are very much in the title race, "Obviously, there is pressure but we have to take one match at a time and we have to win all our remaining matches and that is how we can go about this," said Bhattacharya.
Do Dong-Hyun who was the hero of the derby, having scored a brace, can be rewarded with a start along with Ranti Martins who is looking determined to finish as the top scorer second season on a trot.
Speaking about Mumbai FC, Biswajit stated, "Mumbai FC is a very good team. You can't go by their standing in the Hero I-League. Every team lose to some other team and so the standings does not reflect directly on the performance."
Arnab Mondal, who was show caused for his alleged racist remark in the derby encounter, is all set to link up with Bello Rasaq at the centre of defense.
Khalid Jamil, meanwhile, needed a turnaround soon as they languish at the bottom of the table but his boys were really unlucky in losing out against Bengaluru FC by a solitary goal the other night.
"Yes we are last in the league right now but we drew against Kingfisher East Bengal at home, but this is an away match so we have to fight hard", Jamil sounded confident yet grounded ahead of the herculean task ahead.
Jamil had his full contingent available to him save Eric Brown who was absent. Taisuke Matsugae will have to work hard in the midfield to come out with a positive result from the encounter.
The former Indian defender did not say that they would have any special plans for the dangerous duo, Ranti Martins, and Do Dong-Hyun.
"All of them are very good players and we have to defend as a unit. I don't have any special marking plans for any individual," Khalid admitted.
In the closely-contested Hero I-League, a win for Mumbai can take them to as high as fourth in the table while the Red and Golds have a chance to ascend to the very top.
Both teams will look to eke out a win nonetheless with very different motivations whatsoever.
The Hero I-League encounter will kick off at 07:05 PM and it'll be broadcast live on Ten 2.
