Bambolim (Goa), Oct 27 (NationPress) Chennaiyin FC is set to face off against Indian Super League rivals East Bengal in the second fixture of the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 Group A on Tuesday at the GMC Athletic Stadium, 4:30 PM. The team is eager to recover quickly from a narrow loss to Mohun Bagan.

During their match against a fully-equipped Mohun Bagan team, the all-Indian squad of Chennaiyin showed resilience, battling fiercely on a rain-soaked Fatorda pitch. Head coach Clifford Miranda expressed his pride in the squad's determination during their first competitive match in five months, stressing the need to build on that performance as they gear up for the pivotal clash against East Bengal.

“Our performance against Mohun Bagan was commendable, especially with limited training sessions. The players exhibited a remarkable attitude from day one and throughout the match. They faced challenges boldly and played without fear. Mistakes were made, but that’s expected with only 12 days of training. The players are gradually understanding my vision for them, and we are consistently improving,” Miranda shared.

Chennaiyin and East Bengal have previously clashed ten times, with the Marina Machans holding an advantage after a decisive 3-0 victory in February during the ISL. This match will mark their initial encounter in the Super Cup.

Miranda further remarked on the upcoming match, saying, “The players’ attitude was exceptional. They displayed a desire to play, defend, and were willing to endure without the ball, which is fantastic. This gives me hope that we can create something significant moving forward.”

Experienced left-back Mandar Rao Dessai, who played as part of the defensive five, echoed Miranda's sentiments, expressing confidence that the team will carry the same spirit and unity into the next match, highlighting their performance against Mohun Bagan.

“The commitment and character shown by everyone, especially in such a short training period, were truly commendable. We played as a cohesive unit, representing our club with pride, and we gave our all. Although the result wasn’t favorable, our performance and team spirit instilled confidence. We will carry that belief into our next match against East Bengal tomorrow,” he stated.

In conclusion, Miranda confirmed that the team will have its full roster available for the match, despite only training together for the past two weeks. Chennaiyin will conclude their group stage with a final match against Dempo SC on October 31.