East Bengal head coach Antonio Lopez Habas admitted that preparing for the IFA Shield 2026 final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been a challenging task, with several of his players returning from international duty just days before the Kolkata derby, but insists his team is hundred per cent ready for the marquee clash.

East Bengal booked their place in the final after their semifinal victory, but Habas’ attention has quickly shifted towards the clash against their city rivals. With the AFC Champions League Two campaign also approaching, the Spaniard acknowledged the difficulty of managing his squad and workload.

“We are 100% ready for the final and I believe in my training, evidently with respect to the opponent. The idea is that we will play one different match, absolutely different than us, the final,” Habas said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

The East Bengal coach admitted that managing the minutes of players returning from international duty has made team selection particularly difficult.

“Very difficult. We are professionals; we are thinking about it 100% in the match,” he said. “It’s very difficult to build a competitive team. But the idea I have now is what is the first level for tomorrow.”

Habas confirmed that he would assess the returning players during training before making his final decisions. He said their physical and mental condition would be evaluated alongside players who featured in the IFA Shield quarterfinal and semifinal.

The Spaniard also stressed that the arrival of new foreign players could require some adjustment, but insisted that professionalism should help them settle quickly.

“For me, it’s not too much important. Because when you are a professional player, this is not a problem,” Habas said.

Reflecting on the differences between the Durand Cup final and the upcoming Shield final, Habas said the circumstances were completely different, particularly with AFC Champions League Two commitments on the horizon. On the possibility of a penalty shootout, Habas refused to give Mohun Bagan an advantage because of their goalkeeper’s form and insisted his team would aim to settle the contest within regulation time.

“I prefer to win the match in the 90 minutes,” the East Bengal head coach added.

Habas also outlined his tactical approach, calling for discipline, composure and better decision-making in front of goal.

“We have to score goals in the moment we have the opportunity. And solid team and disciplined tactics is very important for us for tomorrow. We have to control the match,” concluded.