By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team

NEW DELHI: Kingfisher East Bengal are locking their horns with Champions Bengaluru FC on 3rd April amidst myriad of speculations. The Red & Gold outfit are travelling to the realm of the Blues, who has qualified for the AFC Cup Round of 16 last week and are enjoying every bit of their street smart football. Eelco Schattorie, whose dressing room has almost turned into a mini hospital, is a strong believer of attacking football and shows no intention to deviate from the ideology. Ashley Westwood, the rival general has a fully fit squad to deploy his gambits and finds no reason to worry ahead of the thrilling Hero I-League encounter against Kingfisher East Bengal. On a tete-a-tete session with www.i-league.org, Eelco ‘Efficient’ Schattorie voiced out about their gameplan, strategy and many more.EXCERPTS:

You are enjoying an unbeaten run in the Hero I-League. Would you focus on leaving the pitch unbeaten or winning at any cost?

Oh no way. It contradicts my football theory. I always hit the pitch to win it, not for a drab draw. Nevertheless, my side will be missing the services from Milan Susak, Leo Bertos, even DUDU who has gone through an MRI. No matter what, my boys will fight out of their skin to make them taste the defeat. I really care less about the score; the final result matters all for me.

Within rigorous Hero I-League fixture, your boys had midweek AFC Cup match too. Do you think the players are jaded right now before such a crucial Hero I-League match?

To be frank, yes they are. I have already been confirmed about two of my foreigners and really afraid of losing out Dudu against Bengaluru. However, End of the day, in professional football we can’t whine on these issues.

There is no odd on favourite at Kanteerava this Sunday. Are you planning any particular change?

That’s the reason behind playing second team in the AFC Cup match.  Though I am left with very little options, I won’t mind to take calculated risks to get the result done.

Does East Bengal have any plan-B in striking lineup?

We have quite a few Indian players who are capable of playing the attacking midfielder role and combining well with Ranti. It’s not about playing striker or midfielder, a positive gameplan is utmost important. Capitalising on the counter attacks and opening up the goalmouth are all we have to do.

Ranti Martins himself levelled BFC defence line as best of the lot and personally he admires John Johnson. Are we going to watch a duel between Kingfisher East Bengal attack and Bengaluru FC defence?

With due respect to Bengaluru FC defence, I am not worried how you guys are levelling the match. End of the day, it’s 11v11 in the pitch. I am concerned about my boys. On a given day if we execute the plan, the result could be garnered.