"I don’t think the fourth official has ever played football before," says Eelco Schattorie

Eelco Schattorie insisted that his team United Sports Club suffered due to lack of fitness. United Sports lost 0-1 to Bengaluru FC today and have come down to the second position in the league table.

At the press conference, Eelco said: “Lack of fitness, because we are in our fourth week and you can see in the end, specially in the last half we did not have the power, the sharpness to keep the ball in the final third.

“I don’t blame my players because it is something which will take time. Against a team like Bangalore, who have a good defence and good foreigners who organise well.”

Schattorie, however, criticised the opponent’s strategy of defending in numbers.

“I am a little bit disappointed with Bangalore who had eleven players in their own half. If you want to be a top team you should try to dominate and not defend. They had one good chance, but the goal was fantastic. But as a goalkeeper you should go hundred percent. It was a mistake from my goalkeeper,” he said.

The United coach was utterly disappointed and angry about referring. He said: “I am very disappointed with the referring. It was actually the fourth official.

“Deepak Mondal gets a yellow card because he stretched his leg. A hundred percent yellow card. Few minutes later John Johnson does the same thing. In football you start shouting at little things and then move out. This fourth official, he wants to go home and tell his wife that he was the one who sent the coach off. I don’t think this man has ever played football before. It was not the referee but the fourth official. The referee on the whole did a good job.”

On Ranti’s poor performance and the arrival of the fourth foreigner, he mentioned: “Ranti, I think if I compare with Eric, Eric was not at the top of the game but he had energy. I think Ranti had an off day. I even thought of substituting him but considering the bench strength we had it would have been difficult. But this happens. Believe me this is due to lack of fitness.

“Our fourth foreigner came last night, we don’t have much time to train. I need to see him. I have heard good reports of him. I need to see how his personality is because that’s always difficult to judge. Football-wise I am sure he will be a good one. In a week I hope we will sign our fourth foreigner.”

Schattorie was also of the opinion that they missed Lalkamal Bhowmick’s creativity in the midfield.

After the third round, United stand in second position with six points from three games.