Ludhiana: East Bengal coach Subrata Bhattacharya on Tuesday dedicated their win to their supporters.

“I wanted to give something to my supporters for their faith in the team. This victory is for them,” said Bhattacharya, following their 3-2 semi-final victory over Mohun Bagan in the Federation Cup.

“I am very happy for the boys. They played their hearts out. Mohun Bagan did well but we were better. It was a very competitive match,” he said.

On bringing in Dipendu Biswas for Debabrata Roy, he said: “I took a chance. I had a plan and we did accordingly. The substitution was to ensure we did not stop attacking.”

Bhattacharya denied there was any complacency after the team went 3-1 ahead. “You can’t afford to be complacent at this level.”

Asked why they went on the defensive in the last 15 minutes, Bhattacharya said: “It is an Indian phenomenon. Most Indian teams tend to become defensive after taking the lead.”

Bhattacharya had a word of praise for Dipendu and Rahim Nabi. “They were crucial today. Nabi is one of the best in my team.”

Mohun Bagan coach Carlos Roberto Pereira said, “I wish we had played the first-half like the second-half. We took the lead and tried to sit on it. It was a mistake.”

Pereira noted: “The goals we let in came from midfield lapses. My man of the match was Barreto. He played everywhere.”