Mohammedan Sporting Club, the newly promoted I-League champions, will make their Indian Super League (ISL) debut on Monday against Durand Cup winners NorthEast United FC at their home ground, the Kishore Bharati Stadium.
Mohammedan Sporting, which earned promotion to the ISL after winning the I-League last season, faces a tough challenge against NorthEast United, who finished seventh in the previous campaign.
Mohammedan Sporting head coach Andrey Chernyshov expressed his team’s ambition to finish in the top six and qualify for the knockout stage. “We understand the strength of this competition and the need to fight in every match and play good football,” Chernyshov said.
NorthEast United FC, which has won all six of its outings since the start of the season, including the Durand Cup, is brimming with confidence. Head coach Juan Pedro Benali emphasized the importance of consistent performance. “The feeling of winning the Durand Cup was great, but it ends 24 hours later. We are just focusing on the next game now,” Benali said.
Mohammedan Sporting will rely on the experience of former India international goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa and defender Pritam Kotal, who has played for ATK Mohun Bagan and Delhi FC in the ISL. NorthEast United FC, on the other hand, will look to their foreign contingent, including Ghanaian midfielder Patrick Kpozo and Spanish forward Iker Guarrotxena, to make an impact.
The match promises to be an exciting clash between two teams with contrasting styles. Mohammedan Sporting is known for its attacking flair, while NorthEast United FC is more defensively solid.
The ISL is India’s premier football league, featuring 11 teams from across the country. The league has attracted several high-profile players and coaches in recent years, including former Manchester United and England defender Wes Brown and former India national team coach Stephen Constantine.
