Chennaiyin FC all set for opener

However, Chennaiyin FC, which concluded at the penultimate position in ISL 2016, had the ignominy of losing to FC Goa, which hovered at the last spot in the previous edition, when they met at Fatorda. 

CFC has retained its main group of players from the last two years, with only four out of the eight foreign players making their first trip to India. Shotstopper Karanjit Singh continues as the last line of defence while the back line is braced by some top-notch international signings. Centre back pairing of skipper Henrique Sereno and Mailson Alves could keep the FC Goa forwards at bay with their aerial presence and tight defending. 

Head coach John Gregory would be counting on this defensive duo to replicate their performance from the past ISL seasons. With the addition of Inigo Calderon, Dhanachandra Singh and Jerry Lalrinzuala, the team would aspire to exhibit a better showing in defence after it was all over the place last year. 

The Chennaiyin FC manager has already hinted that he would bank on playing the ball through the midfield. He will look forward to deploying a formation which helps his passing style of football. 

While Raphael Augusto has been enthralling the fans with his craftsmanship for the past two years, Spain’s Jamie Gavilan and Slovenian Rene Mihelic are relatively new to the Chennaiyin setup and would be hoping to start on a high. With the side owning the above three overseas playmakers of high calibre in the squad, the 63-yearold might be lured to field the trio in the starting eleven.

The team also comprises exuberant and promising young Indian players like Thoi Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh and Dhanpal Ganesh.

After retaining Jeje Lalpehklua before the player draft, the home side added former ATK forward Mohammed Rafi to its roaster. Nigerian Jude Nworuh was recruited as an international signing in the final third territory. Jeje, who is the highest Indian goal scorer in the league, will walk into the eleven for the opener while Rafi or Jude would partner him if Gregory goes in with two men up front. 

As Brazilian legend Zico’s contract with Goa expired after ISL Season 3, the Virat Kohli co-owned franchise roped in Spaniard Sergio Lobera Rodriguez. The ex-Barcelona Assistant manager has served sides like Barcelona ‘C’, Las Palmas and Moghreb Tétouan in the past. The squad has undergone a complete overhaul after the departure of the Brazilian legend. 

The visitor’s overseas contingent is hugely dominated by the Spanish with six of the eight members from the ‘La Furia Roja’. Brazilian defender Bruno Pinheiro returns to the team after his stint with FC Goa in Season 1 of ISL. Goanborn Brandon Fernandez, who has attracted scouts from Premier League sides like Leicester City and Sunderland, will look to silence the home fans in their den. All the other players from the squad have been drafted to suit the high pressing style of football, which the manager prefers. Forward Adrian Colunga Perez is likely to miss the opener for the away side.