Elano Blumer proves his talisman status for Chennaiyin FC by bagging the DHL Winning Pass award

Chennaiyin FC’s Elano Blumer was awarded the DHL Winning Pass award (Image courtesy of ISL)

After a disappointing exit in the semi-finals of the Indian Super League last season, a lot was expected of Chennaiyin FC in the 2015 edition. All this changed when Marco Materazzi’s men got off to a disappointing start with consecutive defeats against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata and Delhi Dynamos.

It all changed in their third match when Elano Blumer stepped up to guide his team to a crucial win over FC Goa. Playing at the Fatorda, the south Indian side romped to a 4-0 win over Zico's Gaurs and got their campaign back on track. The Brazilian midfielder was central to their quest for three pivotal points.

It was Elano who effortlessly released John Stiven Mendoza to score the first goal – a delightful through ball that bisected Goa’s central defenders and allowed Mendoza to beat the goalkeeper and grab his first goal of the new season.

Elano wasn’t done, though. He would score a goal himself in the first half before setting up Mendoza again in the second half. Mendoza would go on to get the first hat-trick of the new season. And he had Elano to thank for unselfishly setting him up for the first two goals.

After Chennaiyin’s 3-0 win over Mumbai City, keeping their playoff hopes alive, Elano picked up the DHL Winning Pass award – an award presented to each team’s highest assist-maker in the ISL this season.

Football always tends to remember the goalscorers. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are always talked about and their goalscoring exploits in Europe are always compared. But while they find the back of the net more often than not, many people tend to forget the players who set them up to score.

These players toil hard to ensure their attack has an end-product. They do their best to make sure attacks don’t fizzle out. They bring the ball into the final third and provide the telling pass that sets up players and gives them the best possible option of beating the defence and the goalkeeper.

From top goalscorer in 2014 to primary assist provider in 2015 (Image courtesy of ISL)

Mendoza currently leads the ISL goalscoring charts with 11 goals. But he has Elano to thank for making it so easy for him.

That’s where the DHL Winning Pass award comes into the picture. By putting the highest assist-makers on a pedestal, the players who weave magic on the pitch and create goalscoring chances are also given due credit.

Chennaiyin FC are now fourth in the ISL table, looking to secure a playoff spot. Going by last season, that is where they belong; they did top the table last year after all.

Materazzi's side will want to go at least one step further and make the final this season. While his side has struggled – six defeats and an inconsistent run of form saw them drop to the foot of the table at one point – three consecutive wins have seen them come back strong.

But they wouldn’t be where they are without their inspirational captain. Elano has four assists and four goals so far for the Super Machans. Gliding across the pitch with the ball at his feet, he gives opponents looking to mark him a tough time and draws defenders to free up his teammates to get into better positions.

The 34-year-old will want to finish this season on a high. After topping the goalscoring charts last season with eight goals and winning the Golden Boot, he will want to win the big one this season – the ISL trophy.

Once the ISL is over, Elano could return to Brazil, having made a vow to return to Santos once his ISL campaign was done. But Chennaiyin fans will fervently hope that the team’s talisman comes back for a third season in 2016.