Chennai: Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa share a history of intense matches that have gone down to the wire, with the most entertaining being the final of the 2015 edition of the Indian Super league. The Chennai side overcame Goa in the dying minutes of the thrilling game to be crowned champions.
With new managers at the helm — Englishman John Gregory for Chennaiyin and Spaniard Sergio Lobera for Goa – both teams will look to forget a wretched season last term as they face off in their opening game of ISL4 at the Nehru Stadium here on Sunday. The managers have gone on record to accept that their predecessors, Marco Materazzi (Chennayin) and Zico (Goa), will be a tough act to follow.
During the draft, Chennaiyin’s focus was on retaining their core group of domestic players from the previous seasons. But the club lost out on some key members who were instrumental in winning them the title in the second edition. Jayesh Rane was snapped up by ATK and Bengaluru FC picked Harmanjot Singh Khabra. Chennaiyin’s use of the instant trade option for the duo proved futile.
Their new acquisition, Portuguese Henrique Sereno, proved his mettle with ATK last year.
The central defender who scored the equaliser against Kerala Blasters in the final will be wearing the captain’s armband.
Slovenian Rene Mihelic, donning the number 10 jersey and Chennai’s prized possession, and Brazilian Raphael Augusto would love to assume control from the centre of the field.
Gregory would expect his forwards Jeje Lalpekhlua, one of the most productive Indian players in the tournament, and Nigerian Jude Nworuh to fire on all cylinders. But the Englishman would be compelled to adopt a predictable passing game on the ground as both strikers are on the shorter side. In modern football, crosses from flanks are a major source of goals.
The Goan side will heavily back on their six Spaniards to start their season on a positive note and just like Chennaiyin, they have chosen to play without a marquee player. Midfielder Manuel Lanzarote has already fired in a few goals during the pre-season friendlies and would be eager to prove that he is the real deal.
