ISL 2018-19: 5 Key Players for Bengaluru FC This Season

As the referee blew the final whistle at the Kanteerava Stadium on 17 March 2018, Bengaluru FC's players sank to the turf. A team that had topped the Indian Super League table with an 8-point lead fell to a 3-2 defeat to Chennaiyin FC in the final.

Their domination in the league meant nothing without a win in the final as their south Indian rivals took home the title for the second time. The curse of the table toppers failing to win the title every year continued.

Now, Bengaluru are looking for redemption. The 2018/19 season kicks off on 29 September. And the second matchday sees the Blues play none other than Chennai in their first fixture - a team that effectively beat them at home twice in the last campaign.

We look at five key players that will be instrumental in the Blues' chase for a first league title since 2016.

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#5 Juanan Gonzalez (Centre-Back)

Juanan will lead Bengaluru's

defence

this season [Image: ISL]

After five years at the club, English defender John Johnson has moved on to Kolkata side ATK. That leaves a big hole in the back-line that needed to be filled up. Judging by the defensive lapses in the AFC Cup, Bengaluru desperately needed one and signed pre-season trialist and Spanish centre-back Albert Serran (formerly of Espanyol and Swansea City).

But he is new to Indian football, unlike his defensive partner Juanan. The former Real Madrid B and Fortuna Dusseldorf defender has been with the club for two seasons now and has been a mainstay at centre-back, occasionally playing as a right-back too.

The 31-year-old has the task of commanding his back-line and making his new partner feel right at home against the best forwards the ISL has to offer.

Juanan played 18 matches in the ISL last season, making 29 tackles, 10 interceptions, and 97 clearances. He also blocked 20 shots to help the Blues finish the league stage with the best defensive record.

What makes Juanan crucial is also his contributions at the other end of the pitch. His 6 ft 4 in frame is quite useful during set-pieces and that was one of Bengaluru's source of goals last season thanks to the planning of then assistant coach Carles Cuadrat - who took over as head coach after Albert Roca left the club at the end of the season.

#4 Erik Paartalu (Defensive Midfielder)

Erik Paartalu has extended his stay at Bengaluru until 2020 [Image: ISL]

To brand Erik Paartalu as just a defensive midfielder would not do justice to his repertoire of skills on the pitch. While the Australian is quite adept at breaking up play, he is quite the all-round midfielder who can help out in both defence and attack.

Paartalu anchored the Blues midfield alongside the hard-working Lenny Rodrigues last season but the latter has since moved on to FC Goa. With the departure of Toni Dovale as well, that leaves Paartalu as the main experienced central midfielder in the squad.

What makes the 32-year-old indispensable is his ability to slot into defence. He has either deputised at centre-back when players were rested or suspended. He has also played as a third centre-back when Bengaluru play with a back-three.

"I've played there (centre-back) a few times in my career. It's a different position for me but it's something I enjoy. To be out there on the pitch I'll play anywhere." - Erik Paartalu

Last season, Paartalu made 51 tackles and 16 interceptions in 18 matches. He also made 34 clearances and 26 blocks. He was also quite disciplined, going into the referee's book only twice during the entire campaign.

But arguably his most important contributions came when he found the back of the net three times - thanks again to set-pieces. Paartalu also had two assists to his name.

#3 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Goalkeeper)

Gurpreet Singh was in the Golden Glove race last season [Image: ISL]

When Bengaluru lost Amrinder Singh to the ISL Draft, they lacked a quality goalkeeper. That's when they quietly went about securing the services of Gurpreet Singh who was looking for a club to play regular football ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in January 2019.

Suddenly the Blues looked a much stronger squad and the move paid off with Gurpreet commanding the box and aerial duels.

It wasn't the perfect season with the goalkeeper beaten on clever free-kicks and even penalties while a red card early in the season saw the Blues lose to Goa away from home.

However, the 6 ft 6 in goalkeeper soon pulled up his socks and finished the campaign with the most clean sheets in the league (7). In 19 matches, Gurpreet faced 63 shots on target and conceded only 17 goals, making 46 saves and 115 catches in all.

One of his greatest strengths was also his play-making skills (yes, you read that right). Gurpreet often launched the ball up-field for Sunil Chhetri to latch on to.

"That's something I do because I feel that is the right choice so we can surprise the opposition. I do it even with the national team too. Chhetri bhai and I have that understanding. It's not to do with tactics or coaching - it's something we have been working on." - Gurpreet

The club's skipper always made the right runs to beat the offside trap and Gurpreet had a telepathic connection with him and almost always found him with ease after bypassing every player on the pitch.

#2 Dimas Delgado (Attacking Midfielder)

Dimas Delgado [Image: ISL]

Dimas Delgado had joined Bengaluru FC before the knockout stages of the AFC Cup in 2017 and he quickly became a fan favourite. A no-nonsense midfielder who controlled the Blues' attack, the Spaniard brought all his experience from Spain and the Australian A-League with him.

Playing in the no.10 role in a 4-2-3-1 or as a central midfielder in a 3-4-3, Delgado is quite comfortable with the role change. Bengaluru's possession game flows through him and he invariably controls the tempo of the game before the front three jammed the pedal to the metal to attack.

Delgado is also instrumental in the team press. While the forwards are the first line of defence, Delgado's positional awareness and ability to press the first opponent on the ball is what helps them break counter-attacks even before they are initiated.

In 17 matches last season, Delgado had a goal and three assists to his name. He made 1,120 passes with a pass accuracy of 77.4%. He also made 45 tackles and 21 interceptions to go with his 17 clearances and 12 blocks.

The veteran playmaker signed a contract extension last season and will be at the club till the end of the 2018/19 season.

"My family and I have enjoyed our time here so far and we want it to carry on. I want to stay on, fight hard and win the ISL and every other trophy we are competing for." - Dimas Delgado

New signing Xisco Hernandez could give him a run for his money once he is settled but there is a lot the new arrival can learn from Delgado on how to run the Blues' midfield.

#1 Sunil Chhetri (Forward)

Sunil Chhetri [Image: ISL]

It was hard to imagine that at the age of 33, Sunil Chhetri was still the best player in the Indian Super League last season. Although he finished behind Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) and teammate Miku in the goalscoring charts, there was no question that the Indian skipper was by far the star of the tournament.

Chhetri proved that he was one of the fittest players in the league; he played all 21 matches for the Blues (18 league fixtures, two semi-final legs, and the final). Leading from the front, Chhetri scored 14 goals and had two assists.

Playing on the left of a front three, Chhetri formed a partnership with Miku to form a fearsome duo that scored a combined 29 goals. Miku's movement and Udanta Singh's ability to switch flanks helped immensely and Chhetri profited from this telepathic movement that became seamless as the season wore on.

But even when things weren't going their way, it was Chhetri who would grab the game by the scruff of the neck and provide a moment of brilliance that became the difference between going home with just a point or all three.

With the arrival of Bhutanese international Chencho Gyeltshen, there is now competition on the wing. But this is something that will only push Chhetri to train harder as he is one player who will not take his spot for granted - even if he wears the captain's armband.