Kalinga Super Cup: East Bengal, Kerala Blasters Lock Horns with MBSG Clash on the Line

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The 2024 Kalinga Super Cup kicks off with a tantalising clash between East Bengal and Kerala Blasters at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 20th April, Sunday.

With the tournament now following a knockout format, there's no room for missteps-especially with a quarter-final showdown against Mohun Bagan Super Giant awaiting the winner.

East Bengal: Building on Bruzon's Foundations

After a disastrous start to their 2024-25 Indian Super League campaign under Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal turned to Oscar Bruzon just three months in-and the turnaround has been evident. Though they still missed out on the playoffs, the team displayed improved structure and intensity under the Spaniard.

"We want to bring in structure and simplify the roles of the players," said Bruzon ahead of the Super Cup opener in a post-match press conference.

"The idea is to make the team competitive and play a brand of football that suits their strengths."

Bruzon's impact hasn't gone unnoticed in the dressing room either.

Mahesh Singh: "Time to Reset and Go Again"

Winger Naorem Mahesh Singh, one of East Bengal's most consistent contributors, believes the team is ready for a fresh challenge.

"The Super Cup is a new opportunity. We didn't get the results we wanted in the ISL, but we've improved a lot under Coach Oscar," Mahesh said.

"Training has been sharp, and everyone's focused on executing our roles well. We want to go all the way."

Kerala Blasters: Catala Era Begins with High Stakes

While the Blasters had a topsy-turvy ISL 2024-25 campaign failing to qualify for the playoffs. The club then appointed David Catala as head coach replacing Mikael Stahre at the helm. The Spaniard, who has coaching experience in Spain and Cyprus, has had limited time with the squad but is optimistic.

"We've only had a couple of weeks together, but the response from the players has been excellent," said Catala.

"There's a lot of willingness to improve. Right now, it's about building trust, getting the basics right, and competing hard."

Adrian Luna: "We're Starting Fresh"

Blasters skipper Adrian Luna remains the heartbeat of the team and is looking forward to a clean slate.

"The ISL is behind us-this is a new competition," said the Uruguayan playmaker.
"We're trying to adapt to the coach's style, and although it's early days, there's belief in the group. We want to stay compact and use our quality to hurt opponents."