Habas pleased as East Bengal rout Churchill Brothers 4-0 in ISL opener at Fatorda
East Bengal opened their ISL 2026–27 campaign with a 4-0 win over Churchill Brothers at Fatorda Stadium, Goa on Sunday, October 18, 2026, and head coach Antonio López Habas said he was pleased with the result and performance.
The defending Indian Super League champions scored through Dani Ramírez, Edmund Lalrindika and a late brace from Bipin Singh, with the Ramírez free kick coming after a foul by Dramane Salou and Lalrindika converting from the centre of the box following a David Lalhlansanga assist just before halftime. Bipin, introduced at half-time for Rohit Danu, struck a curling effort from outside the box in the 85th minute and a close-range finish in the 90th minute assisted by PV Vishnu. The Red & Gold Brigade dominated the 48th encounter between the clubs, kept a clean sheet behind a back line marshalled by Prabhsukhan Gill, and completed a statement 4-0 victory under their new head coach.
After the match Habas emphasised the importance of starting the tournament with a win and praised his players, saying: “It was very challenging out there against Churchill. And it’s important to start with a win in a tournament like the ISL. I am very happy with the performance of my players, and we need to continue this show against Inter Kashi in our next game.” “Training and working hard every day and working every day and collaborating with the players. If the players want, everything is possible. If the players don’t want, it’s impossible. So that’s the main thing, he also added.”
Habas addressed the team’s missed chances and areas for improvement, noting the scoring opportunities that were not converted: “Sometimes, it’s normal because when you can score four goals, maybe you have six, seven or eight chances that go wasted.” He added a focus on correcting mistakes while maintaining momentum: “I think there is scope for improvement in many areas ahead of the next game. We have to keep moving forward and maintain this momentum against Inter Kashi in our next match, too. This match is behind us. We must focus on the positive aspects and correct the mistakes.”
The coach also outlined the immediate scheduling challenges facing the squad, referencing forthcoming fixtures and the need for rotation: “Now, we have two matches coming up in quick succession. We have the ISL match against Inter Kashi, followed by the AFC match, which is very important for us. Maybe we will have to rotate the players because playing three matches in four days is not normal.”
On player workload and preparation Habas said the club had put in extended preparation and would manage recovery: “We have had three months of pre-season, the Durand Cup, the IFA Shield, AFC matches, and a lot of travelling as well. So, we have to give our players rest and rotate the squad. Maybe the objective is to rest and compete. Rest and compete.”
Habas praised the team’s organisation and emphasis on duels and second balls in describing why East Bengal prevailed, stating: “I am very satisfied with this 4-0 performance. It is very important, not only because of the scoreline but also because of the team’s organisation. We dominated the spaces and controlled the ball. That is very important.” He added: “The team’s performance in transition was also very good. I am very happy with that, but we have to continue playing like this. Now, I am thinking about the next match.” “The Churchills are a very difficult team because they are always fighting and playing aggressively, with a positive attitude. They always believe in the score. It is very difficult to win physical duels. Winning the second balls was our priority. If we wanted to win the match, we had to win the duels and the second balls. Today, I think we did well,” he concluded.
Forward Edmund Lalrindika reflected on the collective effort and his goal after the win, saying: “I’m very happy for the team. We won the match, and I think full credit goes to the team. We followed the coach’s instructions and played accordingly. We are really happy. I also scored my first goal.” He stressed team priorities and the confidence from continental competition: “But for me, that’s not the most important thing. The team always comes first. We won the game, and we need to build on this performance. We are already focused on the next game.” “It’s a big challenge for me because playing in the AFC competition and representing India is a big opportunity. It gives us a lot of confidence for our Indian Super League campaign. For me, it’s a really good experience. I think you can also see how confidently we played in the game,” Edmund concluded.
East Bengal now prepare for an immediate ISL fixture against Inter Kashi, followed by an AFC match, with Habas indicating squad rotation and player recovery will be priorities given the congested schedule.