Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 15 (ANI): The defending champions of the Durand Cup, NorthEast United FC (NEUFC), are gearing up to launch their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign. Their first match will be against the newly-promoted Mohammedan SC (MSC) at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan stadium in Kolkata on Monday. This encounter holds significant promise, with Mohammedan SC earning their ISL spot by triumphing in the I-League 2023-24 season, while NEUFC concluded the last ISL season in seventh place.

Mohammedan SC’s head coach, Andrey Chernyshov, is adopting a measured approach, focusing on acclimating his players to the league’s intensity rather than setting lofty expectations from the onset. The Russian coach aims to build a cohesive and resilient team. “Our primary goal is to forge a strong team for the ISL. We recognize the tough competition ahead, facing numerous skilled Indian and international players. It’s crucial for us to gain experience, fight hard in every match, and showcase quality football for our fans. This is what motivates us to perform our best in each game,” Chernyshov shared, according to ISL reports.

In contrast, the Highlanders (NEUFC) are riding high on their historic Durand Cup victory, which marked the first silverware in the club’s history. Nevertheless, head coach Juan Pedro Benali emphasizes looking forward rather than dwelling on past successes. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, Benali is determined to surpass that benchmark this year. “Winning the Durand Cup was a fantastic feeling, but we need to move on quickly if we aim to progress. It’s great for our records, but our focus must be on the upcoming matches,” Benali stated, as quoted by ISL.

Benali also highlighted their approach towards each game with a championship mindset. “Every match is treated as a final for us. We are up against a formidable team with a skilled coach, in an excellent stadium with passionate fans. Our strategy requires us to be smart, composed, and calm,” the Spanish coach added.

Both teams boast a roster filled with promising Indian talent. For NorthEast United FC, Parthib Gogoi emerged as a standout player in ISL 2023-24, netting five goals and providing four assists in 17 league appearances. His impressive statistics include a 26.32% goal conversion rate and 39 touches within the opposition’s penalty area. Gogoi is undoubtedly eager to enhance his performance this season.

Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC places high hopes on former Hyderabad FC star Makan Chothe. Chothe has demonstrated an exceptional dribbling success rate of 60% (21 out of 35) since the start of 2024, making him one of the top dribblers among Indian players who attempted more than 20 dribbles during this period. His success rate is only surpassed by Carlos Martinez (63%) and Alberto Noguera (61.5%).

Juan Pedro Benali remains optimistic about the potential of young Indian players across all ISL clubs. He believes that nurturing their talent and encouraging them to set higher goals is crucial for their development. “The quality of Indian players in the ISL is remarkable. We must all work together to help them aim higher continuously. The sky’s the limit, and they should never cease progressing,” he concluded.

As both teams prepare for this much-anticipated clash, fans can look forward to an exciting display of football, filled with skillful play and strategic brilliance from both sides.