East Bengal Juara Indian Super League Usai Tekuk Inter Kashi

Klub sepak bola East Bengal FC sukses mengamankan gelar juara perdana kompetisi Indian Super League (ISL) musim 2025-2026 setelah menumbangkan Inter Kashi dengan skor 2-1 pada pertandingan pamungkas yang berlangsung Kamis, 21 Mei 2026.

Kemenangan tipis tersebut membuat tim berjuluk Red-and-Gold Brigade finis di puncak klasemen dengan koleksi 26 poin dari 13 laga, sekaligus mengakhiri penantian gelar kasta tertinggi selama 22 tahun menurut laporan Sportstar.

Kompetisi kasta tertinggi sepak bola putra India edisi ke-11 ini menggunakan format liga tradisional tanpa babak playoff Cup akibat pemotongan durasi menyusul keterlambatan jadwal sepak mula.

Rival sekota mereka, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, terpaksa merelakan trofi juara bertahan dan harus puas menempati posisi kedua meski mengumpulkan poin yang sama dengan East Bengal.

Mohun Bagan yang menang atas Sporting Club Delhi pada laga terakhir kalah dalam produktivitas gol setelah East Bengal mengoleksi 28 gol, sedangkan mereka hanya membukukan 21 gol di sepanjang musim.

Sebelum rangkaian pertandingan penutup dimulai serentak pada pukul 19.30 waktu setempat, lima tim termasuk Punjab FC, Mumbai City FC, dan Jamshedpur FC masih memiliki peluang matematis untuk memperebutkan trofi.

Sementara itu, Bengaluru FC tertahan di peringkat ketiga klasemen akhir dengan raihan 23 poin setelah menyelesaikan seluruh pertandingan mereka terlebih dahulu.

Sebelum pertandingan krusial penentu gelar bergulir, Manajer asal Spanyol dari tim juara sempat membagikan ketenangannya dalam menghadapi laga paling bersejarah bagi klub.

"I will sleep beautifully. I have a dream so I will need to." ujar Oscar Bruzon, Pelatih Kepala East Bengal.

Ia menilai skuad asuhannya sukses memangkas jarak dengan para pesaing dan mampu menyuguhkan performa yang konsisten sepanjang musim kompetisi.

"Tomorrow, we have the chance to end a beautiful year." kata Oscar Bruzon, Pelatih Kepala East Bengal.

Di kubu pesaing terdekat, penyerang Mohun Bagan juga sempat menegaskan komitmen timnya untuk memberikan segala kemampuan terbaik di lapangan hijau hingga akhir kompetisi.

"There’s one more game. Anything can happen. We will leave everything on the pitch," kata Dimitrios Petratos, Striker Mohun Bagan.

Di sisi lain, persaingan ketat hingga hari terakhir kompetisi dipentaskan di Stadion Atletik Indira Gandhi, New Delhi, antara Punjab FC dan Mumbai City FC yang sama-masing mengemas 22 poin.

Pelatih Mumbai City mengarahkan fokus tim pada pemulihan fisik para pemainnya menyusul waktu persiapan yang singkat akibat jadwal padat setelah laga tandang.

"The main focus after the last game was recovery and regrouping because it has been a short turnaround for us after our previous away fixture. Now the attention is fully on our final game of the season and making sure the team is physically and mentally ready for the challenge," ujar Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.

Kratky menyadari besarnya taruhan dan tuntutan kemenangan di tengah kondisi cuaca panas New Delhi serta kekuatan taktis tim lawan.

"We know what is at stake and we know we need to win, so our focus is very clear. The team is motivated and ready to fight. Punjab FC are a strong side and the conditions will also be demanding, so we have to be fully prepared in every aspect if we want to get the result," kata Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.

Arsitek tim asal Republik Ceko tersebut menilai tekanan besar yang dihadapi anak asuhnya merupakan sebuah kehormatan bagi klub yang bersaing di papan atas.

"Pressure is a privilege for teams competing at the top because it means we are fighting for something important. My responsibility is to make sure the players are prepared physically, mentally, and tactically. At the end, it comes down to execution and attitude on matchday. The team that shows greater desire and mentality will give itself the best chance to win," ucap Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.

Kratky juga mengingatkan armadanya untuk mengantisipasi suhu udara Delhi yang sangat panas demi meraih hasil akhir yang maksimal.

"We know what's at stake, we need to win and we have to prepare accordingly to that. So as I said, the team is ready, they want to fight and we will see what happens. Obviously we know Delhi will be very hot so we have to be extremely well prepared for the conditions and obviously Punjab is a very good team," kata Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.

Kratky menutup pesannya dengan menegaskan bahwa para pemain harus habis-habisan dalam mengamankan poin penuh pada laga pamungkas tersebut.

"It's the last one. The winner takes all basically. So again, as I said, for me, we just have to fight. We just have to work and nothing to lose. Can't be anything left on the pitch," tutur Petr Kratky, Pelatih Kepala Mumbai City FC.

Sejalan dengan sang pelatih, gelandang Mumbai City mengutarakan perkembangan personal serta suasana positif di dalam tim setelah mencetak gol perdananya di ISL.

"Joining the club has been a huge learning experience for me. The coaches, staff, and teammates have supported me from day one and helped me improve both as a player and as a person. The team has prepared very well and everyone is focused on this game. The atmosphere within the group is very positive and we are ready to give our best and fight for the three points," kata Zothanpuia, Gelandang Mumbai City FC.

Ia memuji kontribusi penting dari pelatih kepala dalam memupuk kepercayaan diri serta menjaga komunikasi yang intens dengan para pemain.

"Our coach has played an important role in building confidence within the team. He always trusts and supports the players and his communication helps us to stay," ujar Zothanpuia, Gelandang Mumbai City FC.

Sementara itu, Punjab FC yang diperkuat ketajaman penyerang Nsungusi Effiong mencoba mengalihkan tekanan klasemen agar para pemain tampil lepas.

"Last day, a lot of teams, a lot of possibilities, a lot of scenarios that anyone can be champion. We try to approach this game like all the others. And I think that pushes the pressure away from the team," ucap Panagiotis Dilmperis, Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC.

Dilmperis mengungkapkan bahwa ia menyukai tuntutan tinggi sejak pertama kali menandatangani kontrak bersama tim barunya yang berstatus sebagai klub besar.

"When I signed in this club, I knew how demanding this club is. I love this kind of demanding because finally it means you are in the biggest club in India. We cannot be happy finishing in the second position," kata Panagiotis Dilmperis, Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC.

Ia pun melayangkan pujian terhadap jalannya musim kompetisi ISL 2025-2026 yang dinilainya berakhir dengan skenario yang luar biasa.

"wnderful final day to a season that didn't look like it would begin." ujar Panagiotis Dilmperis, Pelatih Kepala Punjab FC.

Pemain sayap Punjab FC juga membagikan kisah perjuangan individunya dalam melewati masa-masa sulit akibat dibekap cedera musim ini.

"I must say that it's a really hard time going on for me and it's bad timing and very bad luck I must say. But I am not giving up from inside," tutur Ninthoi Meetei, Pemain Sayap Punjab FC.

Meskipun demikian, Meetei merasa sangat puas dengan motivasi dan dukungan yang diberikan oleh tim kepelatihan kepada dirinya.