Chhetri-led BFC will aim to make solid beginning

Bengaluru: Bengaluru FC take on Chennaiyin FC in the second match of the Indian Super League here at the Kanteereva Stadium on Sunday. In what will be a replay of last season’s final, the Sunil Chhetri led side will want to want to kick start their campaign with a win against the defending champions.

With Carles Cuadrat taking over at BFC, all eyes will be on the style of play as Cuadrat had earlier spoken about continuing the philosophy that was developed under former manager Albert Roca. The onus will be once again on the talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri along with Miku to come up with the goals. Miku was  instrumental in BFC’s campaign in the 2017-18 season that saw the Venezuelan find the back of the net 15 times.

Addressing the media on the eve of the match, BFC coach Cuadrat refused to get sucked into a revenge mode, when pressed on whether the clash with Chennai could be seen as getting one over their fierce rivals as they had lost the final, even though they had finished well above the rest after the group stage. “If you put that thing about revenge, you are getting out of the reality of the football game”, he said.

“We have to begin the season against someone, and if that someone is Chennaiyn FC, so be it. What’s important is that we go out there each time and put on a good performance. What matters is not who the opposition is, but that we focus on what we can do well”.

Chennai on the other hand have problems of their own with star mid fielder Dhanpal Ganesh, who is expected to miss the first half of the season due to a knee injury . Coach John Gregory singled out that that the absence of Ganesh was a  huge setback, but reckoned that whoever comes into the team must take the chance and put his best foot forward. “Obviously, we will miss Ganesh. But we feel other people will have opportunities to get themselves a place in our team. Twelve  months ago, Ganesh himself was on the bench but took his chance when he got it. It is time for the others in the squad to take their chances. But he (Ganesh) is a big miss for us in terms of his character and personality. Not to mention the important goals he has scored for us last season,” he said.