The Indian Super League will have all three big Kolkata clubs in the 2024-25 season as Mohammedan Sporting gained promotion to the ISL after winning the I-League last season, joining East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
On Wednesday, Mohammedan SC coach Andrey Chernyshov sounded out a warning to other clubs that the newly promoted century-old club is here to play “serious football”.
“It’s a nice feeling to be here, really, to be part of the ISL family. We did a great job last season. We played very well and won the I-League,” Andrey Chernyshov said at the ISL Media Day.
“It was our target last season (to be promoted to ISL). But I’m happier about our supporters because they waited for this moment for many years. Our club is 130-plus years old. We will do our best in the ISL. We are here to play serious football, we need to show our supporters how strong we are in the ISL,” he added.
The Mohammedan SC head coach also said that he and his side want to challenge for the playoffs.
“It’s a nice feeling to be a part of the ISL family. We did a great job last year by winning the I-League. I am thrilled about our supporters. They had been expecting this for many years. I can’t wait to get started with the league,” Chernyshov said.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Renew Rivalry
The two other Kolkata heavyweights are on their desired track ahead of the coming ISL campaign. Whilst the Mariners embark on the coveted title defence, East Bengal FC are bolstered by solid reinforcements to their squad in the summer.
“It’s a process to prepare the team for the ISL. We have been working together for a month and there are still a few things to improve upon. We are confident in our players and the way we have trained until now,” Mohun Bagan Super Giants boss Jose Molina said.
“It’s a different season with different players, and hence I wouldn’t like to compare to the last campaign, because every team is in a different situation as they were last time around. We have the complete squad with us and we will have to be competitive from day one,” Cuadrat said.
Odisha FC, Here to Win
Sergio Lobera said Odisha FC, who finished fourth last season, will be gunning for the title in his second year in charge.
“It’s been six years in India for me now. We had an amazing season last year, finishing at the top of the group in the AFC Cup. We were close to winning the Super Cup and we reached the ISL semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history. It was an amazing run and we want to replicate that this year to put a smile on the faces of the fans,” Lobera said.
Playoffs Challengers
NorthEast United, Punjab FC and Jamshedpur FC were also present in Kolkata for the media interaction on Wednesday.
The Highlanders come into the season as the Durand Cup, their first trophy in 10 years of existence.
“We are now starting to realise with what we did in the Durand Cup! But, now, we look forward to the ISL and there’s another story that’s waiting for us in the coming season. Trophies in the past don’t make you play better. You are only as good as your last game,” Benali said.
Punjab FC’s new head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis is ready for the challenge of the ISL as he stressed on the new faces in his quad aiding in their effort of proving that last season’s results were not a a fluke.
“I am really lucky with all the players we have got in the Punjab FC roster. They are all great personalities and our aim is to achieve greater heights than we did last year,” Dimperis said.
Jamshedpur FC’s Khalid Jamil, one of the two Indian coaches at the helm this season, lauaded ISL’s new rule of having the Indian assistant coach holding an AFC Pro License holding (or equivalent) as well as the introduction of the concussion substitute.
“These new rules will help in the development of Indian football. We shall study it in detail and see how they could help us benefit during the course of the season as well,” Jamil said.
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