Mohammedan Sporting are looking at a new dawn, as they prepare for their first-ever ISL match on Monday at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. They will face an in-form NorthEast United (NEUFC), who recently won the Durand Cup. It will be a momentous occasion for the black-and-white brigade, with the home crowd ready to cheer them on.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders finished seventh last season, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot. However, this season, they made history by winning their first major title, the Durand Cup, and are now poised to carry the momentum into the league.
Mohammedan Sporting
One of the three Kolkata giants, Mohammedan Sporting will be looking to make a strong impression in their debut ISL season. After a remarkable I-League-winning campaign last year, they earned their spot in the ISL, and now, coach Andrey Chernyshov will aim to continue his magic in the top tier. The club is known for its rich history, legacy and football culture.
Most of their senior players were absent during the Durand Cup, with the reserve team featuring in the matches. As a result, fans are somewhat worried about the lack of game time for the senior squad and the limited pre-season preparation ahead of their ISL debut. In the I-League last season, Chernyshov mostly employed a 4-3-3 attacking formation, and the team lost only two matches out of 24.
Interestingly, they remained unbeaten in away league games last season but will look to improve their home record. Both their losses came at home, where they won seven matches and drew three out of 12 games. They recently played a friendly against Kerala Blasters, losing 2-0, which gave them a good indication of the challenges ahead in the ISL.
To add to their concerns, Mohammedan Sporting have faced setbacks in the transfer market. One of their key signings, Mohammed Abdul Kadiri, sustained an injury that will sideline him for the entire season. Furthermore, despite the transfer window being closed, Mohammedan Sporting were close to securing former Melbourne City defender Nuno Reis. However, earlier today, the deal was hijacked by fellow Kolkata giants, Mohun Bagan. As a result, defence remains an area of concern for Chernyshov & Co.
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NorthEast United
In the final of the Durand Cup at Salt Lake Stadium, NorthEast United found themselves trailing 2-0 at half-time. Bagan fans were jubilant, but what happened next was unbelievable. Juan Pedro Benali and his team mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring two goals to force a penalty shootout, where they emerged victorious.
Before the final, Benali had confidently stated in the press conference that his team had not come just for a vacation; their goal was to win the trophy, and they did it in style. The shift in their attitude and approach was evident, and this new-found resilience could carry them through the ISL season as well.
Throughout the Durand Cup, the Highlanders’ coach favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, conceding only three goals in six matches, including four clean sheets. They were also prolific in attack, netting 18 goals. Across all departments, NorthEast impressed, and with their confidence soaring, they are eager to start the ISL season on a high.
One of the key factors behind their recent success might be their swift and effective transfer business, which allowed Benali to establish a settled starting XI early on.
Coach-speak
Chernyshov: “First, we need to make a strong team for the ISL. We understand how strong this competition is. We will be playing against many good Indian and foreign players. We need to take this feeling from the ISL, the experience, and we need to fight in every match, show good football for the people, and this is most important, which inspires us to do very well in every match.”
Benali: “The feeling of winning the Durand Cup was great, but it finishes 24 hours later. We cannot live with it anymore if we want to move forward. We need to forget that. We have our own mentality. We take every game as the finale. We are playing against a strong team, a good coach, in a very good stadium, with great fans, so we need to be smart, cool, and calm in our approach.”
Players to watch out for
Just like last season, the duo of Mirjalol Kasimov and Alexis Gomez will be key for the Black Panthers. Additionally, new signings such as forward Cesar Lobi Manzoki and right winger Franca are expected to bring more firepower to the attacking department.
One of the smartest moves the club have made is retaining the core group of Indian players from last season. Alongside them, they have brought in exciting and talented Indian prospects like Makan Winkle Chote and Sajad Hussain Parray from Hyderabad FC, and Gaurav Bora from NorthEast United, among others.
NorthEast United
Two Indian players who stood out during the Durand Cup were Jithin M.S and Thoi Singh. In defence, Asheer Akhtar was rock-solid, forming a strong partnership with either Hamza Regragui or Michel Zabaco.
Among the new signings, Alaeddine Ajaraie and Guillermo Fernandez look to be the most threatening. They demonstrated their quality in the final against a strong Mohun Bagan side in front of their home crowd, especially Guillermo, who delivered a world-class finish with a volley. He ended the tournament with five goals and two assists in six appearances.
Nestor Albiach is already a familiar face in the ISL, but this could be a breakout season for Parthib Gogoi. Last season, he scored some spectacular goals and caught everyone’s attention. However, this season, the focus will be on whether he can continue his development and deliver match-winning performances for the team.
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