For every team in the Indian Super League (ISL), the challenge will be to make the whole seem greater than the sum of its parts. Chennaiyin FC has to do this in double quick time. It has looked perennially a step or two behind the rest, for it was conceived only at the last minute following the withdrawal of the Bangalore franchise.
From the signing of the marquee player to the identification of the training ground, it has had to play catch-up. Now that things have more or less fallen into place it’s time for the focus to shift to the pitch.
Any city-based league, like the Indian Premier League, with a mix of Indian and foreign nationals, attracts the first set of eyeballs mainly on virtue of its overseas talent. In this respect the team will be identified by Bernard Mendy, formerly Paris Saint-Germain, Cristian Hidalgo Gonzalez, a product of the famed Barcelona academy La Masia, Bojan Djordjic, former Manchester United youth player, Mikael Silvestre, formerly Manchester United and marquee signing Elano Blumer.
But as any IPL side found out in subsequent years, it’s the strength of its Indian contingent that tilts the balance. Here, East Bengal skipper and mid-fielder Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Mohun Bagan captain and goal keeper Shilton Paul, former Churchill Brothers forward and 2014 FPAI Indian player of the year Balwant Singh, and the highly rated 23-year-old striker Jeje Lalpekhlua have to come good.
However, the trump card for Chennaiyin FC might well be Elano, the 33-year-old Brazilian who is the youngest among all marquee players. So far he hasn’t garnered as much interest as the likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Robert Pires et al have done. But come match day he might well outdo everybody.
As with other sides, formation-wise, not much is known as all training sessions have been under closed doors. On paper, a classic 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with one striker in a withdrawn role looks possible. But a 3-5-2 shape was used in the last of its practise games. Age and coaching philosophies might also mean that players’ might be shifted out of their comfort zones.
However, with former Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi at the helm, an Italian imprint with emphasis on defensive organisation and tactical acumen is a given. But as Elano told The Hindu they will also have to attack and score goals. Getting this concoction right will be the key.
The team:
Goalkeepers: Abhijit Mondal, Shilton Paul, Gennaro Bracigliano
Defenders: Gouramangi Singh, Dhanachandra Singh, Khelemba Meetei, Abhishek Das, Bernard Mendy, Jairo Suarez, Marco Materazzi, Mikael Silvestre
Midfielders: Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Denson Devadas, Dane Pereira, NP Pradeep, Jaison Vales, Anthony Barbosa, Sukhwinder Singh, Cristian Hidalgo, Bojan Djordjic, Bruno Pelissari, Pierre Tillman, Elano Blumer.
Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Jayesh Rane, Balwant Singh, Eduardo Silva Lerma, John Stiven Mendoza.
Head Coach: Marco Materazzi
Assistant Coach: Vivek Nagul
Owners: Vita Dani, Abhishek Bachchan and M.S. Dhoni
Marquee Player: Elano Blumer
Watch out for:
Balwant Singh will in all probability lead the attack. With 17 goals for Churchill Brothers in all competitions, 2014 has been his breakout year. Currently with Mohun Bagan, the ace forward would like to be as prolific in the ISL.
Cristian Hidalgo Gonzalez, a product of Barcelona’s youth set-up, is expected to be a first-team regular. Adept as a winger and as a withdrawn striker, the 31-year-old Spaniard also has the experience of having played for Deportivo La Coruna.
