ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal's Manolo Diaz criticises players after 6-4 loss

ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal’s Manolo Diaz criticises the quality of SC East Bengal players after humiliating defeat against Odisha FC: SC East Bengal head coach Manolo Diaz was furious after his side’s shambolic defensive display in a 6-4 thumping against Odisha FC in the Indian Super League. The Spanish tactician did not mince any words while taking questions from the media at the post-match press conference. Follow all the Live Updates and news of the ISL 2021-21 only on InsideSport.IN

When it rains, it pours ☔️⚽️

11 goals were scored when @OdishaFC and @sc_eastbengal met last season. Safe to say that #OFCSCEB fixtures are ALWAYS an absolute goal fest! 🤯🔥#HeroISL #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/a4CVPvbG1q

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 30, 2021

The Red and Golds started their season with a 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC and then followed it up with a 3-0 loss against arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata Derby. A lot of people were hopeful that they may register their first win of the season against Odisha FC but it turned out to be a humiliation.

Darren Sidoel handed them the lead in the 13th minute whereas Semboi Haokip and Daniel Chima Chukwu also found the net but it was simply not enough as Javi Hernandez ran the show for the Kalinga Warriors as he assists both the headed goals of Hector Rodas and then went on to score from a freekick. The second half saw substitutes Aridai Suarez Cabrera and Isak Vanlalruatfela pile up the misery. Aridai came up with a stunning freekick goal before scoring his brace where he combined with Jonathas. Overall it was a pretty poor defensive showing from both sides.

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The Red and Golds have had a horrid start to their campaign and the defence especially looks all over the place. So when quizzed whether SC East Bengal will be able to win a single game this season with that kind of defence. Manolo criticised the players and spoke about their lack of quality to play in the ISL.

“It is a big question. For the moment, it is what it is. We don’t have enough quality for playing these kinds of matches mainly in the set pieces we are losing the positions. Our job is working out with the squad and fixing it. At the moment we don’t have enough quality to play matches in the Indian Super League,” Diaz began at the post-match press conference.

ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal's Manolo Diaz criticises the quality of SC East Bengal players after humiliating defeat against Odisha FC — ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal’s Manolo Diaz criticises the quality of SC East Bengal players after humiliating defeat against Odisha FC

The former Real Madrid Castilla man highlighted how the team has performed well in the first thirty minutes of the game before conceding goals from setpieces. “In our first thirty minutes, we played well. Out of the three matches, this was our worst performance in the Indian Super League. In twelve minutes, we lost our attention and the opponent scored in set pieces,” he added.

Lastly, the Spanish tactician explains how defensive duties need to be carried out by the entire team and not only by defenders. He once again criticises the performance of the team during defensive plays as they gave away cheap goals. “Defensive responsibilities are the whole squad, not only the line of defence. Our performance and the whole team is at par level because they have allowed scoring in simple situations and easily away,” he concluded.

ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal’s Manolo Diaz criticises the quality of SC East Bengal players after humiliating defeat against Odisha FC

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