Calcutta: Minerva Punjab FC's loss to Chennai City FC on Friday has made things favourable for East Bengal in their bid to win the I-League.

While Minerva still lead the standings with 32 points from 17 matches, East Bengal are placed third with 29 points from 16 matches. Second-placed Neroca FC have 31 from 17 games.

East Bengal face must-win situations in their remaining two matches - against Lajong FC in Shillong on Monday and versus Neroca FC at home on March 8. East Bengal will win the title if they are tied on points with Minerva since they enjoy the head-to-head advantage.

East Bengal manager and former India international Manoranjan Bhattacharya felt it's up to the players now to make full use of the opportunity that has come their way.

"To me personally, this has come as a great relief. I am happy that we don't have to look at other teams and our fate is in our own hands now," Manoranjan said from Shillong on Friday.

"This is one chance that cannot go abegging. We have to win both the matches for our own sake."

Manoranjan thinks the players' body language will be vital in such situations. "The body language of the players makes a huge difference. They must remember that East Bengal won their last national league title 14 years ago... The chance to regain the title has come and they should grab the opportunity with both hands.

"I was the coach when East Bengal won the title in 2000-01. We were five points ahead with six matches to go. But then we dropped points and it came to such a position that we had to win three consecutive matches in the business end to win the title," Manoranjan recalled.

Manoranjan always believed that this sort of opportunity would come the team's way.