ISL Team Preview: Chennaiyin FC 

Chennai has been added into the ISL fraternity at the last moment after the initial franchise Bangalore has pulled out of the Indian Super League due to various reasons. At that point, Chennai came into the limelight with Abhishek Bachchan as the owner. Soon after Asian Paints’ Dani and Vita Dani came into the fray as they got some stakes in the team. Few days back, Indian cricket team skipper MS Dhoni joined the ISL by joining some stakes in Chennaiyin FC.

There were some news that Italian giants Inter Milan too hold some stake in the club and Inter Milan’s former defender Marco Materazzi was roped in as the team’s Manager cum Player. Former Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder Elano Blumer was named as their marquee signing. Chennaiyin FC go into the tournament as the favourites with a balanced squad.

Chennaiyin FC Squad:

Goal Keepers:

Abhijit Mondal

Gennaro Braciglino

Shilton Paul

Defenders:

Abhishek Das

Benard Mendy

Dhanchandra Singh

Gouramangi Singh

Suarez Carvajal

Khelemba Singh

Mikael Silvestre

Marco Materazzi

Midfielder: 

Anthony Barbosa

Bojan Djordjic

Bruno Augusto Pelissari de Lima

Christian Gonzalez

Elano Blumer

Dane Pereira

Denson Devadas

Harmanjot Khabra

Jaison Vales

NP Pradeep

Jonas Tillman

Sukhwinder Singh

Forwards:

Balwant Singh

Eduardo Silva

Jayesh Rane

Jeje Lalpekhlua

John Valencia

 Chennaiyin FC are the favourites going into the tournament given the balance in the side. Their defence is rock solid with India’s tank Gouramangi Singh, Mikael Silvestre, Benard Mendy and Abishek Das guarding the goal. The midfield of Chenniayin FC is creative as well as a strong force in defence with the likes of former Manchester United player Bojan Djordjic, NP Pradeep, Sukhwinder Singh, Christian Gonzalez providing stability along with skipper Elano. Jeje will be the guy to watch out for in the tournament as the two-footed forward has the tendency to poach goals with ease.

Chennaiyin FC Schedule:

15 October- FC Goa (A)

21 October- Kerala Blasters (H)

25 October- Delhi Dynamos (A)

28 October- Mumbai City FC (H)

4 November- Atletico de Kolkata (H)

8 November- NE United FC (H)

11 November- Pune City FC (A)

14 November- Atletico de Kolkata (A)

19 November- Pune City FC (H)

23 November- Mumbai City FC (A)

27 November- NE United FC (A)

30 November- Kerala Blasters (A)

5 December- FC Goa (H)

9 December- Delhi Dynamos (H)

*Chennaiyin FC’s home matches will be played in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.