Jay Gupta quashes 'Overload' theory, confidently puts East Bengal as Best team in ACL Two Group

Jay Gupta has quashed the overload speculations ahead of East Bengal's AFC Champions League Two encounter against Al Shorta, and the defender also believes they are the best team in their continental group.

East Bengal will take on Iraqi club Al Shorta in an important encounter on Tuesday at the Salt Lake Stadium, and after their IFA Shield defeat against Mohun Bagan, this will be an important encounter.

Gupta has been a key part of the East Bengal jigsaw, and the left-back doesn't feel overloaded as he is expected to play against Al Shorta.

"Firstly, going to the national team really helped me. The magnitude of matches against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama were massive. I think it really helps a youngster to take care of his nerves during such big games. It has definitely helped me understand to keep my confidence high throughout the game, as the coach said, the first half needs to be as good as the second half," Gupta said at the pre-match press conference.

"I don't feel overloaded. Definitely do not think that way. I think we need more matches under our belt to be able to stay at the level throughout the season. We need more matches to get more confidence and more experience, and we definitely want to push for more," the India defender added.

Incidentally, Gupta featured only 49 minutes for the Blue Tigers across the three international friendly matches, and then played the majority of the IFA Shield final defeat against Mohun Bagan.

As the Torch Bearers take on the Iraqi club in Kolkata, Jay also reckons his team as the best in their group, contrary to East Bengal coach Antonio Habas.

"Someone said Al Shorta is the strongest team in the group, I don't agree with that. I would confidently put us in that spot. A good team knows how to bounce back from a difficult situation, we will take it the same way. We will take confidence from the first match against Al Hussein, and hopefully we are gonna get all three points," Gupta concluded.

This will also be East Bengal's final home game this month, as they play three consecutive away games, two in the ISL against Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi, and then in the AFC Champions League Two against Omani club Al Seeb.