Bengaluru: With five India internationals in their squad, a formidable Bengaluru FC will look to defend their ISL title when they start their campaign against NorthEast United here on Monday.
Guided by Spanish coach Albert Roca, they put up a splendid show in their first season and topped the league phase standings though they suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final to Chennaiyin FC at home.
The next season (2018), Bengaluru had Roca's protege Carles Cuadrat under whom they defeated FC Goa to clinch their maiden ISL title.
With a clutch of new signings and retention of key players, particularly domestic, Bengaluru look set to dominate again this season. They roped in India midfielder Ashique Kuruniyan this season.
With an all-Indian attacking line-up of Chhetri, Udanta Singh and now Kuruniyan, the defending champions look formidable on paper.
There were five Bengaluru FC players in Igor Stimac's starting XI that played the first two World Cup qualifiers with captain Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Udanta, Rahul Bheke and Kuruniyan playing a significant role.
The Blues have added striker Manuel Onwu of Spain, who will have the unenviable task of replacing the prolific Miku, who has left the side.
The Highlanders have also made many changes to their squad in the offseason. In fact, they lost many important figures from the team like former head coach Eelco Schatorrie, who guided them to a semi-final finish last season.
The former coach moved to Kerala Blasters where he was followed by prolific goal-scorer Bartholomew Ogbeche, goalkeeper TP Rehenesh and Seityasen Singh. Also following them out the exit door was Rowlin Borges.
They, however, brought in the likes of Asamoah Gyan, Maximilliano Barrera, Milan Singh the standouts among many other signings made by the Highlanders.
New coach Robert Jarni will have a tough job on his hands when facing the reigning champions, but he has a pretty good squad of players that could upset the Blues. The likes of Gyan and Barrera were big signings and are expected to start barring any injuries. And with most of the squad changed, expect a lot of changes compared to last campaign's starting elevens.
Bengaluru FC registered a come-from-behind win against NorthEast United in the two-legged playoff en route the final last season. But it will not be easy for the home side to beat NorthEast United on Monday.
