Star striker Baichung Bhutia says East Bengal are confident of winning the ASEAN club football championship final in Jakarta on Saturday.
"There is unity among the players and it is showing on the field as well. Team spirit is fantastic and the team is playing like a unit," Bhutia told reporters on Friday, a day before the final against Thailand champions and Asia's No. 3 club BEC Tero Sesana, in a teleconference, arranged by team sponsors Kingfisher.
East Bengal made history on Thursday, becoming the first Indian club to make it to the final of an international club championship.
The Thai side had beaten East Bengal in the first match 1-0 and the Kolkata giants will be looking to avenge the defeat in the title round.
Rating the Thai side highly, Bhutia said East Bengal have another "hard game" on hand but promised to keep up the good showing.
"We will make it as difficult as possible for them. Hopefully, we should get victory," he said.
Bhutia is, however, unwilling to gloat about the fact that he is the highest goal scorer in the championship, with seven goals.
"While it definitely feels good," he said, "it is all part of the game."
"So one gets four goals, sometime no goal at all. I am enjoying my game and I am getting goals. I will give my best," he said.
Asked how important was the team's training under Kevin Jackson, for a month prior to the championship, Bhutia replied that while the South African is a good influence on the team, it is important to remember that it was the combined efforts of everybody at East Bengal that brought about success.
"It's very much a team effort... even the contribution of the mali at East Bengal counts," he said.
Referring to yesterday's semi-final, which East Bengal won, beating Indonesian league champions Petrokimia Putra 8-7 via sudden death, Bhutia admitted the Indian side did miss a few chances and should have won the match easily.
East Bengal skipper Suley Musah expressed hope that there would be no partiality in refereeing in tomorrow's final as both the title contenders are from outside Indonesia.
East Bengal experienced some biased refereeing in a couple of matches as they knocked out two Indonesian sides on way to final.
Musah's prediction for the final..
"Anything can happen... only God knows," he said.
East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick said the boys are doing well, noting that Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are ranked above India among football-playing nations.
"Let's see what they (East Bengal) can do tomorrow," he said.
He said Mike Okoro, who played his first match of the tournament yesterday, coming in the place of Debjit Ghosh, is under treatment following an injury and a decision on whether to field him or not depends on the medical report.
Similarly, Ghosh is also suffering from a head injury. No decision has been taken on fielding him as well, he informed.
Bhowmick said the players are really enjoying the situation. "If they can play their hearts out, they can do wonders," he added.
The team's strategy tomorrow would be to strive for tactical superiority and hold possession. "If the boys could reach the final, anything is possible," he said.
Bhutia said East Bengal's good showing is good for the game in the country.
"Indian football is now actually improving and progressing. One needs to be positive," he said. "In the past, India used to lose by seven goals to Indonesia and five goals to Thailand, but that is not the scenario anymore," he added.
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