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Being the manager of an I league club brings with it a unique set of experiences, especially if it’s a Kolkata based club, as the intense rivalry with Mohun Bagan and passionate fan following from the footballing city comes to the fore. With such specialties attached to the job, what makes Trevor Morgan even more special is what he brings to the table at East Bengal FC due to his past as a footballer in England where he played center-forward in the 1980′s and 90′s.
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Currently lying third in the I league table, East Bengal are in search of crucial points in order to end their campaign on a high. The winning mentality, hard work and the fighting spirit needed for it are exactly what Trevor Morgan stands for. As the I-league campaign draws to a close, Sportskeeda’s Renato sat down to chat with the East Bengal manager in an exclusive interview about his work at the Kolkata based club, his impression of the famed derby with Mohun Bagan and his past as a footballer in England.
What are the best characteristics of East Bengal in this season?
The spirit amongst all the players is great. They get on well with each other and work hard for each other in training and in games. The team has a great winning mentality and they will keep going until the very end to try to win games wherever we play. We try to keep the game simple. Each person in the team has an individual job and that simplicity helps the team structure.
How do you analyse the I-League by the tactical/technical points of view? Is it very similar to Malaysian and Singaporean football?
Technically, majority of players here are good, which is a huge credit to their personal abilities and hard work as some of the surfaces that are used here in India for games and training are not good. It is similar to Singapore and Malaysia but those two countries have far better facilities for football than what India has. Unfortunately, here many of the clubs have no infrastructure apart from the first team and maybe an U19 team. There is no real clear-cut pathway to becoming a professional footballer. Tactically I would say, and I am only talking about East Bengal, that the players have adapted to our system from the first day of training and have worked hard at it. We are probably the only team that do not play a rigid 4-4-2 formation and I have tried to play the players in their best positions to suit their capabilities.
Tell me what the atmosphere was like in the derby with Mohun Bagan.
East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan is a massive game here in Kolkata with huge media attention. As the game has a bit of Bengali history behind it, two sets of very passionate fans make it a colourful and noisy occasion. To see the Saltlake stadium with over 100,000 people in is an extremely impressive sight. We have played Mohun Bagan 4 times this season and have ended up with 3 wins and a draw to us, so for me pesonally I have not yet had to face a loss to our biggest rivals amd been fortunate enough to witness the joy that a win gives our supporters.
Why is it so difficult to improve the usually skinny Asian players in the physical aspects?
I think the players need education in proper diet, how important using the gym is, about rehydration etc. All the things that we must try to implement at club level is to make as many players aware of what they must do in order to help themselves. I don’t think that not being big in stature is a hindrance as long as the players can play and are prepared to work hard in the gym. There is no reason as to why the success that other Asian nations have had cannot be replicated here in time.
Who was the best according to you: Gary Lineker or Alan Shearer?
I would have to say Alan Shearer. He may have lacked Gary Lineker’s burst of acceleration in the penaly box, but he was strong, aggressive in the air, could finish from distance, his hold up play was excellent and he had a tremendous goalscoring record everywhere he went. England could really do with him now.
Was the legendary Phil Neal, ex-Liverpool, the best manager you have had in your football career? What are your memories of him from during your time playing for Bolton Wanderers?
I think the Bolton job was Phil’s first in management and he was still playing for us as well on occasions. He was 38 then and he was always the first pick in the 5-a-sides we had. As a front player myself, it was great when played. Every ball he gave forward was quality and he rarely gave the ball away, a testament to his personality trait that he never let the high standards that he had set with Liverpool drop. I also played under David Webb, ex Chelsea defender and Harry Redknapp at AFC Bournemouth but Terry Cooper, ex Leeds and England full back was the best I have played under. His knowledge and man management skills were brilliant and he gave me the opportunity to start my coaching career when I worked with him at Birmingham City and Exeter City as his Assistant.
We sincerely thank Trevor Morgan for his time and thoughts and wish him the very best of luck for his future with East Bengal FC.
