Chennaiyin FC, champions of Indian Super League’s (ISL) 2015 edition, go into the new season looking to put behind them the disappointing campaign last year.
If one takes a quick glance at the new team and assess the individual potential of each player as well as the team’s bench strength, it is evident that Chennaiyin have no paucity of talent to repeat their triumph in the second edition of the cash-rich league.
With a new coach at the helm and a fresh approach, 'Super Machans' believe that they can redeem themselves this season.
Right blend of balance and experience
Chennaiyin, who finished seventh in the eight-team league last year, have left nothing to chance this year as their acquisitions for the fourth season have been exciting.
Marco Materazzi, the towering Italian defender and 2006 FIFA World Cup winner, parted ways with the team following a disappointing season last year. That means Chennaiyin will not have that distinct Italian flavor in their game anymore. The appointment of Former Aston Villa Manager John Gregory will see them switching to an English style of play this season. Although Chennaiyin have retained some of the prominent players from last season, the performance of their new foreign signings will be key to their title aspirations.
They have also secured the services of some of the brightest prospects in Indian football, which is a major boost heading into the new campaign.
The team’s pre-season camp in Thailand yielded mixed results as they won and lost a couple of matches.
Secret weapons
The biggest strength for Chennaiyin in 2015 season was their attack, and Colombian Stiven Mendoza was their undisputed star who led the charts with 13 goals. Next year, they lost the service of the tireless winger, which eventually decided their fate in the campaign.
For the new season, Chennaiyin have bolstered their attack with a number of high quality additions.
The two ‘unknown entities’ in the squad are Dutch winger Gregory Nelson and Nigerian forward Jude Nworuh. Nelson is said to be an exciting prospect as he is capable of playing as a right or left winger with ease while Jude’s goal scoring prowess was on display in the Danish league last season.
Indian international Jeje Lalpekhlua, young Baoringdao Bodo, and former Kerala Blasters striker Mohammed Rafi will give them the much needed steel and balance to the attack.
Local, foreign flavor
The team’s midfield flaunts some big names, both Indian and foreign, including Spaniard Jaime Gavilan and Brazilian Raphael Augusto, two experienced ISL campaigners.
Gavilan had played for Spanish top-flight sides such as Valencia, Getafe and Levante before joining ATK. Midfield general Augusto was one of the players retained by Chennaiyin. Slovenian international Rene Mihelic will solidify an already impressive midfield.
The team’s Indian midfielders are no pushovers either. The eye-catching line-up of Anirudh Thapa, Bikramjit Singh, Dhanpal Ganesh, Francisco Fernandes, Germanpreet Singh and Thoi Singh Khangembam indicates that the strength of this squad lies in the mid-field.
New-look defense
Obviously, rebuilding a defense weakened by the loss of the indefatigable Frenchman Bernard Mendy would not have been an easy task for John Gregory. In the absence of Mendy, one of most influential players for Chennaiyin last season, Portuguese star Henrique Fonseca Sereno will be entrusted with the task of marshaling the backline. He is expected to form a solid partnership with Spanish right back Inigo Calderon, who has turned up for many league sides in England, and Brazilian defender Mailson Alves.
Last season’s find Jerry Lalrinzuala, the experienced Dhanachandra Singh, Goan duo Keenan Almeida and Sanjay Balmuchu and former FC Goa player Fulganco Cardozo will be waiting to add Indian flair to Chennaiyin’s defense.
The franchise’s management has reposed its faith in three Indians - Karanjit Singh, Pawan Kumar and Keralite Shahin Lal Meloli - to man the goalpost.
The coach
Chennaiyin FC head coach John Gregory | Photo: getty imagesJohn Gregory has previously managed several EPL teams such as Portsmouth, Aston Villa, and Queens Park Rangers among others. A former England international, he was a constant fixture in midfield for the likes of Northampton Town and Queens Park Rangers. The 63-year-old, who has won six caps for England, started his coaching career at Portsmouth about 25 years ago. He last managed Crawley Town before stepping down in 2014.
Star to watch
Thirty-two-year-old Jaime Gavilan, a product of the Valencia youth academy, has represented Spain at various age group levels. In the run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, coach Luis Aragones called up Gavilan to the senior squad’s camp, but never got an opportunity to cap at that level. He was a part of La Liga side Valencia for four seasons but he spent most of his time on loan to Getafe and Levante.
Top 3 Indian stars
Jeje Lalpekhlua
Age: 26
Role: Forward
Anirudh Thapa
Age: 19
Role: Midfielder
Jerry Lalrinzuala
Age: 19
Role: Left back
