Kolkata, Oct 19 (UNI) SC East Bengal newly appointed Spanish coach Jose Manuel

'Manolo' Diaz has said that they have buried the past and now they are looking ahead

for the ISL seasons 21-22.

" The last season is past. We are thinking about this ( 21-22) season and we want

to improve from last season because we want the best for East Bengal," 53-year-old

football strategist Diaz told his first virtual media conference on Monday.

" At the moment, we are getting to know the players. We now have many players

and we are testing them. In the coming weeks, we are going to finalise the squad,"

said Diaz.

SC East Bengal have begun their pre-season at Panaji (Goa), playing two friendly

games last week. The red and gold brigade beat Vasco SC and Salgaocar FC by 3-1

and 2-0 goal margins respectively.

"We have a lot of skillful and quality players and I am happy with everyone's hard work,"

the former Real Madrid coach said with deputy Angel Puebla Garcia by his side.

"The last season is past. We are thinking about this season and we want to improve

from last season because we want the best for East Bengal," said Diaz when asked

about the team's performance last season.

SC East Bengal had struggled throughout the last seasons and garnered only 17

points from 20 games and placed 9th in the 11-team championship.

"I decided to come here because it (East Bengal) is a big club in India. Also, I had

offers to continue in Spain but I wanted to get international experience. East Bengal is

one of the most important clubs in India, 101 years old." Diaz said.

Asked about how he would manage the team under the COVID-19 pandemic situation,

because the Indian Super League will be played in a bio-bubble again this year in Goa.

Diaz said he has experience of bubble life and the team will be ready for the grind

physically and mentally.

"We have experience of bubble life and we are prepared mentally and physically for

this bubble. We know the conditions and the rules. When the league starts, We are

going to play a match every three and four days and time will pass because we have

to focus on the matches and their tactics. We will put our energy there and won't get

time to think about the bubble."

SC East Bengal will take on arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan on November 27 in the

first derby of the season.

"The derby is a very important match," Diaz said. "We want to win it not only for three

points but also for the fans, to give them happiness. But we will also try and do well in

all the 20 matches of the league. We are ready to win the derby, which is our second

match of the season."

SC East Bengal will take on Jamshedpur FC in their opening encounter of the Hero

Indian Super League 2021-22 season at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on November 21.

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