Beating MB in first Fed Cup final gave me breathing space – Trevor Morgan Exclusive Part One

Eight trophies, 55% winning rate in the I-League and progression to the last eight of Asia’s Europa League. The consistency that East Bengal managed under Morgan was staggering but what according to him was his best achievement?

“My best achievement and the one that gave me the most satisfaction was leading the team undefeated through the AFC Cup group stage. The most important one of me being accepted was beating Mohun Bagan in the Fed Cup final in my first season, as a foreign coach it gave me some breathing space and made it easier to settle into Calcutta and Indian Football,” he opined.

The only blemish on Morgan’s tenure was the failure to win the I-League title, a trophy East Bengal hasn’t won since 2004 but the Englishman doesn’t have any regrets.

“No, I have no regrets at all, we won eight trophies, we gave it our all but it wasn’t quite good enough. It was disappointing but it wasn’t to be for us so let’s enjoy what we did do and not have regrets over what we didn’t do,” Morgan said.

We also asked the former striker to pick the toughest opposing coach and player that he faced while at East Bengal. Not surprisingly, Morgan didn’t give away any names and revealed that he and his players showed equal respect to every opponent but he did single out one name when asked to select the best East Bengal player he worked with.

“Any opponent or opposing coach is the toughest opposition, if you think any differently you will not win any game, whether it be a Calcutta League game or an AFC Cup game. It is important to prepare properly and that means giving the other team full respect.

“(Best player I worked with?) Alan Gow, he had a great technique and understanding of the game and gave us good balance being naturally left footed. Many people were unsure of Alan but if he had remained with us at East Bengal I am sure we would have had even more success,” he recalled.

Scotsman Alan Gow spent just 4 months at East Bengal before moving to English League Two outfit Exeter City

Morgan’s successor Brazilian Marcos Falopa faces a tough task following the former Bristol City striker’s immense consistency but how does the Englishman want to be remembered by the East Bengal faithful?

“Sometimes in life you get in the right place at the right time and I think this happened at East Bengal. The players were fantastic from the day I walked through the door and settled into the system we played and were happy in it. Winning games changes the whole atmosphere, the players looked forward to coming to work and that showed in their performances so although I was the Coach they made it easy for me with the way they prepared and played.

“Whether or not I revived the glory days is not for me to say as I was not there during that time but I do believe 100% that East Bengal have been the most consistent team in India during the past three years and would hope the East Bengal fans remember not just myself but all the players who made those three years so enjoyable,” he concluded.

In part two of this interview you will find out about Morgan’s future plans and his thoughts on East Bengal’s AFC Cup quarter-final draw against Indonesian champions Semen Padang. Watch this space.