No team has defended a league title in Indian football in the Indian Super League (ISL) or in the I-League (since it was rebranded in 2007).
The last team to come close to doing it was Bengaluru FC in 2015. It is a night that most fans of the club would rather forget as Mohun Bagan pipped Bengaluru FC to the I-League title with a late goal at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava stadium.
Fast-forward four years to 2019 and Bengaluru FC are set to kick-off the 2019-20 ISL season to defend the title that they won in March this year.
Briefly, it appeared that the team would have to shift away from the Kanteerava stadium to play its home matches due to an ongoing court case over the use of the stadium, which is shared by athletes of the Karnataka Athletics Association for practice and events.
The club confirmed last week that it would continue playing home matches at the Kanteerava stadium after paying over Rs 78 lakh to reserve the stadium on selected days in the upcoming season.
The importance of the club playing at the Kanteerava stadium, known for its raucous home atmosphere, was not lost on the club's manager Carles Cuadrat. Addressing reporters before Monday's game against Northeast United, he said, "It was very important we stayed at the Kanteerava stadium. Along with signing players, this was an important thing we managed to do in pre-season. It would be very sad if we were forced to play away from the stadium due to politics.”
The manager enters his second season in charge of the club looking to adapt to a raft of personnel changes. The club will be playing in the ISL and in the continental AFC Cup competition. It has promptly moved to Spanish striker Manuel Onwu, Brazilian Raphael Augusto, Indian winger Ashique Kuruniyan and midfielder Eugenson Lyngdoh to add strength and depth to the squad.
He hopes that the new signings will collectively be able to offset the loss of instrumental striker Miku, a focal point in Bengaluru FC's attack last year, who left the club to join Cypriot club AC Omonia.
"I am happy with the players we have signed. All of them have the necessary skills to help the team but we do not have to think that one of these players will be the next Miku because the quality they have is different. I am positive that just like last season when the team gave good answers without Miku, we will be competitive again," explains Cuadrat.
One of the signings, Eugenson Lyngdoh, will be making a return to the club after a two-year stint with Atletico de Kolkata which was marred by injuries. He adds depth to a strong midfield consisting of Erik Partaalu, Dimas Delgado and Raphael Augusto. "We (midfielders) have our different attributes and this will be tough for the coach to pick (amongst us) but my motivation is to keep playing and contribute to the team in the ISL and the AFC Cup," Eugenson said.
Bengaluru FC faces Northeast United in its opening game on Monday night. Coached by Croatian Robert Jarni and bolstered by the arrival of Ghanian international Asamoh Gyan, the team is an unknown quantity going into the season.
Bengaluru FC fans, particularly West Block Blues, a group of the club's most ardent supporters, are planning to unveil a new banner during the game. "This is a tradition which will continue and preparations for it (banner) are underway. There will be chants for some of the new signings and an anthem will be adopted by the fans going forward, this season. West Block TV will also be making a return and videos will be uploaded on the West Block Blues' social media handles," said Vijay Bharadwaj, a chartered accountant and regular match-goer in the city.
The fanbase began preparations after it was confirmed that the club will continue playing its home matches in the city's Kanteerava stadium. "We had faith in the club (Bengaluru FC) and their abilities to ensure we get to watch them play at Kanteerava. So, we laid plans to be ready, which kicked in as soon as confirmation of the club playing at Kanteerava was announced", added Vijay.
The club is considered favourites once again in the ISL but it will be wary of the threat of Northeast United under a new coach. Manager Cuadrat however is eager to shake off the 'defending champions' tag. "Defending the title is kind of an English expression and we don't say that in Spain. It is just one more team competing for the trophy. I never tell my team they are defending the title. I tell them we have to be competitive and reach the playoffs", adds Cuadrat.