Transfer ban is frustrating, had three or four targets, says East Bengal coach Constantine

Panaji: Jake Jervis has trained with East Bengal for two weeks but when the team takes on the might of FC Goa at Fatorda on Thursday, the British striker will have to watch from the stands.
East Bengal have been hit with a transfer ban by FIFA for non-payment of dues to Omid Singh, who they signed in 2020 for two years but eventually did not honour the contract. Significantly, the Iranian winger has not played a single game for the Kolkata giants.
The transfer ban, which was in force till late on Wednesday night, means the club cannot register new players and strengthen coach Stephen Constantine’s hands for the last leg of the Indian Super League (ISL).
“I can’t tell you in words that are printable how frustrating it is,” Constantine told TOI during the pre-match media interaction on Wednesday. “We had three or four guys who we want to target (in January) and then a week into the window, there is an embargo, so you cannot sign anyone. Hopefully, people understand that I cannot sign anyone. We have to get on with it. I have to deal with what we have, and we will continue to do that, until told otherwise.”
East Bengal are ninth after 14 games with 12 points. Constantine’s side has done better than the previous two seasons in ISL, but for a side that has such a rich history, and so many trophies, this is just not good enough.
Constantine, though, knew neither he, nor any other coach, could change the club’s fortunes overnight when he took over.
“I think it’s well documented that I arrived on August 4 and at the Maidan, we had 12 players, no nets, pitch was under water and no staff. Over the last five months, we have staff, we have a complete squad. Did we get all the players we wanted, no, because they were not available or they were taken.
“Has it been difficult? Yes, but as we alluded to the last two years, we were in the bubble, no fan and no pressure, and a total of three wins. We won four this season and I think we lost another four. Against Goa, we conceded a goal in the 93rd minute, lost a 2-0 lead against Odisha that we should have won. We had other results that we could have won or taken points but didn’t. I cannot blame the players, they have given everything, every game, every training session,” said Constantine.
The former India coach said he does not have a magic formula to change the team’s fortunes and would need time to get the players playing like the top teams in the league.
“Our players are playing as well as they can at this moment. But not to have had a pre-season, no continuity like at Hyderabad (FC), ATK (Mohun Bagan), Goa, Mumbai (City) where they had one, two, three seasons together.
“You talk of building a club and teams are hesitant to take more than three or four players at a time because they are hesitant to disrupt the chemistry that the players have. We took 23 players. This is the first time that this group is playing together,” said the coach.
Constantine has been assessing the squad since he took charge and has been left in no doubt that the team will be doing far better next season.
“Next season, we will be in a much better position. We have already identified targets. We have one guy who is waiting to play. So, we would be a completely different team next season, and that comes with continuity and consistency. I don't know anybody who could build the team (in) 10 months with 23 players who have never played with each other before,” said Constantine.