LONDON: The fairytale story of Bengaluru FC and their debut Indian Super League (ISL) season could come to a dream conclusion when they face former champions Chennaiyin FC in Saturday’s league final.
The newcomers have been on an unbelievable run since making the move into the ISL from the rival I-League, winning 13 of their 18 matches under the stewardship of former Barcelona defender Albert Roca.
The Spaniard, who joined the south Indian club as coach in 2016, has already clinched the Federation Cup for the club and a place in the continental AFC Cup final.
They will now attempt to lift the ISL trophy in front of their raucous home crowd at Bangalore’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
“It is what we wanted, to play here in front of our fans,” said Roca, former assistant coach to Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona FC.
“I am very happy for that. On the other hand, there’s also the pressure of playing at home. But this is the final and it is special. We have this chance, we will do everything to get the title.”
Last week, Bengaluru skipper Sunil Chhetri netted a hat-trick on home turf in the second leg of the semifinals as Roca’s charges beat Pune 3-1 on aggregate.
Bengaluru switched to the ISL, which is backed by one of Asia’s richest men, Mukesh Ambani, after Asia’s football governing body ruled that the title winners would be allowed to take part in the AFC Cup from 2018.
With a city-based franchise format which mirrors cricket’s lucrative Indian Premier League, the ISL has surpassed the decade-old I-League in broadcast ratings since making its debut in 2014.
Adding to the bizarre situation in Indian football at the moment, the ISL and the I-League have run concurrently this season, leaving fans in cities that host both leagues in quite a quandary. And it is the ISL that has suffered most, with attendances markedly down on last season.
Chennaiyin, the 2015 ISL champions, advanced to the final after a 3-0 thrashing of FC Goa in the semis, thanks to a brace from their ever-reliable striker Jeje Lalpekhlua.
Chennaiyin coach John Gregory said it was an “incredible feeling” to reach the final, but that the team had their work cut out against Bengaluru.
“We’ve built some trust and understanding and the result is that we’ve reached the final,” said the former Aston Villa boss.
“When you go to the final, you have to make sure you win it. People talk about enjoying the final, but you enjoy it only if you win it.”
BACKGROUND
Bengaluru FC were formed in July 2013 after the JSW Group won the rights to form a direct-entry team for the 2013–14 I-League season. The Group launched the club officially as “Bengaluru Football Club” during a mega launch event at the Bangalore Football Stadium. In preparation for their first league campaign, the club played its first official match against the India national team, the game ending 1-1. In the four full seasons the club has played, they have racked up two I-League titles as well as two Federation Cups, and almost won the AFC Cup in 2016 — finishing runners-up to Iraqi side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.
