Douglas Silva is a shining name in Indian football, especially among the foreign footballers who played in the country two decades ago. 

The Brazilian defender, the only 'unbeaten' footballer in Kolkata 'derby' for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, inscribed his name in the searchlight of India's football fraternity making his debut at East Bengal in 2002 and played a crucial role in winning 13 trophies in the next four years. 

The 50-year-old footballer who already acquired a UEFA-A license coaching degree and is also planning to acquire a Pro-license coaching degree next year, expressed grief when asked about East Bengal's misery with six winless matches in the ongoing ISL. 

“I made my name in Indian football beginning with the red-and-god jersey. Naturally, the team’s miserable performance is hurting me,” Douglas quipped. 

Douglas was surprised to have watched the lack of combination. "If you talk about the fitness level of the players, I would say they are not up to the mark. They can deliver their best for a maximum of 55 to 60 minutes with the fitness level they are showing on the pitch. But I was more surprised to have noticed the utmost lacking in combination. I feel this East Bengal need a Technical Director (TD) who will have the power to give his advice to the coach and he will also co-ordinate between the footballers and the coach," Douglas added.

He also expressed surprise continuing, “The footballers are talking in between themselves whenever they were going through the crisis. We used to do it often in our time. Musa, Bhaichung, and I also took charge of motivating others and giving instructions during the crisis period. The team do not have a leader.” 

The former Brazilian defender who changed the complexion of many matches playing as a defensive central midfielder feels the red-and-gold brigade now must try to exhibit the defensive style of the game. Otherwise, it could be more difficult for them to return to winning ways in the ISL. 

“I was astonished to have seen the absence of Souvik Chakrabarty in the team’s last match against Odisha FC. He is the only defensive central fielder in the team who can control the game in the midfield. The coach should choose a 3-5-2 or 3-6-1 formation amidst the present situation, espcialy before playing an away match. This strategy can stop them from conceding goals. You are going on attacks but you do not have any defensive midfielder or any such football who can play as a solid back-up behind the strikers.”

"Madih Talal still offers hard work, tris to move around the central midfield area. But I am upset to have watched Hijaji Maher. He does not have either vision or the ability to fall back in time to resist opposition, moving down the flanks or the middle freely," explained Douglas. 

Douglas, remembering the late Subhas Bhowmick explained, "Despite being one of India's leading forwards he always tried to strengthen defensive organization. Unless you have a solid defensive organization you cannot build up the penetrative moves in the attacking-third."

The coach of a newly-launched academy in Kolkata also pointed out Anwar Ali's poor performance explaining, “I feel he should not play regularly due to the psychological pressure he is going through. That is reflecting in his game, movement.”

"But the poorest place in the East Bengal team is the wing-backs. I am shocked to have seen how the wing-backs are giving free space to opposition attacks when operated down the flanks at the same time, midfielders are not coming back to fill the free space to stop opposition attacks.”