With feet on the ground, MSC brace for ‘historic’ ISL debut
Times of India | 16 September 2024
Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting, by their coach Andrey Chernyshov’s own admission, are gearing up for a “historic” beginning. Yet amid the euphoria of debuting in the Indian Super League — as they prepare to host NorthEast United FC at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Monday — the Russian coach is also keeping his feet on the ground.
“It’s a good feeling because we are finally in the top level. Last season it was a dream to play in the ISL and now we are here.This is really a special match, a historic match for me and the players,” Chernyshov told reporters on Sunday.
The Russian shepherded the black-and-white brigade to the I-League summit in the last season, thus becoming the second team to have gained promotion to the ISL. But being aware of the challenge ahead, he wants to keep the team’s ambitions rather subdued.
According to their defender Samad Ali Mallick, the team is raring to go, banking on a good pre-season and youthful exuberance. Interestingly, a number of Mohammedan Sporting players — like Rochharzela, Gaurav Bora, and Joe Zoherliana — have had previous stints with the Highlanders as well. However, an ACL injury to Ghanaian Abdul Kadiri — who was supposed to be the team’s defensive mainstay — has possibly ended his season before the start of ISL, leaving the Russian facing the ground reality more coldly and less excitedly.
“It’s easy to say we want to be in the top six, we want to be first or second and so on. But we have not played in ISL earlier and we need to know where we stand. We have so many young players in the team and they have good future. But it’s after playing 4-5 matches you start understanding what you need to change in your game and what is needed to win,” Chernyshov further noted.
It will be a different beginning for NorthEast United as well. Having announced their intent by winning the Durand Cup a fortnight ago, Juan Pedro Benali’s Highlanders will return to the city of their conquest with more conviction and perhaps carrying the favourites’ tag. However, the NorthEast coach is not in the mood to take the debutants lightly.
“It will be a dangerous game for both teams. Mohammedan Sporting, playing in front of their fans, will try to show that they deserve to be in the ISL, that they deserve it as champions of the I-League. It won’t be easy and we must be ready for the challenge,” Benali said.