Habas: "Must be prepared for a tough schedule" ahead of East Bengal’s ISL meeting with Inter Kashi
East Bengal head coach Antonio López Habas said his side "must be prepared for a tough schedule" ahead of their Indian Super League match against Inter Kashi at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on 23 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 IST. The comment comes after East Bengal’s 4-0 opening ISL win over Churchill Brothers; the club has also won the Durand Cup this season and is participating in the AFC Champions League Two.
Habas will face Inter Kashi as East Bengal’s coach before the club travels to face Al-Seeb in their next AFC Champions League Two fixtures, a sequence the coach described as demanding. The match at Balewadi Stadium on Friday is East Bengal’s second ISL game of the 2026-27 campaign and follows their positive start in domestic and continental competition.
The pre-match media briefing was handled virtually via a Google Sheets questionnaire, with Habas and forward Bipin Singh both providing answers ahead of the Pune fixture. The coach outlined his approach to squad selection and recovery amid the congested calendar while the forward reflected on his contribution off the bench in the opening match.
On squad rotation and the travel-heavy schedule, Habas said: “Yes, we will make a few changes, but not many, as many players are waiting to get their chances too.” He added: “I don’t want to make any excuses regarding the tough schedule and the travel, but I want to say that we’re well prepared for any challenge that comes our way. I hope we don’t have any injuries that force us to change our plans at the last moment.” Habas also stated: “I think teams that want to win trophies must be prepared for a tough schedule like this.”
Habas stressed the importance of each fixture and the need to maintain momentum, saying: “No, I don’t think the match against Inter Kashi will be a preparatory match for our next AFC clash against Al-Seeb. Every match is important for us now, and we have to win both matches.” He reiterated squad readiness: “We are well prepared for the match, and all the players are fit to play. I don’t want to differentiate between my foreign and Indian players. Everyone is equally important to the team and me. We want to carry forward the winning momentum from our last match into this game as well,” he concluded.
Forward Bipin Singh described his feelings after contributing goals as a substitute in the season opener and addressed squad mindset and recovery: “Thank you all for asking me this question. Yes, I am very happy that I contributed to the team in the last match after coming off the bench.” He added: “It was very important for me to score those goals, as I was eagerly waiting for my chance. The win was also important for the team, as it was our first match of the season. Starting the campaign with a win was very valuable for us as well.” Bipin said he would accept any role for the team: “Whenever I get a chance, I would like to contribute, whether I come off the bench or feature in the starting eleven. For me, the team comes first. We started like defending champions, and we want to carry this momentum forward.” He acknowledged the packed schedule and recovery constraints: “Yes, there is a lot of travelling, and we have to play many matches within a short span of time, but we need to adapt to this, as we are all professional players. The recovery time is very limited, but we need to manage that and play our best football so that we can win.” Bipin also reflected on working under Habas and addressed teammates: “I am very lucky to be playing for East Bengal again this season and to train under a coach like Habas. He has a lot of experience in Indian football. So, playing under him, scoring goals and winning trophies feels extra special.” “I would like to tell all my fellow teammates to train hard and give 100% whenever they get a chance, because the team always comes first. Don’t get disheartened; just believe in yourself and stay focused,” he concluded.
Inter Kashi vs East Bengal will take place on Friday, 23 October 2026 at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune with kick-off at 5PM IST; the match will be shown live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD and will be available to stream digitally for free on YouTube.