Goa: Bengaluru FC on Sunday (November 1) named their 32-man squad for the upcoming Indian Super League season. They included as many as five U-21 players. Sunil Chhetri would lead the side for an eighth consecutive season, as the Blues kick off their ISL campaign against FC Goa on Sunday (November 22).
The Blues kept their core intact heading into what will be their fourth Indian Super League campaign. They named 17 players from the previous season’s squad. Carles Cuadrat, the head coach of the Blues said, “As a club, we have done well to retain a core of players who have been performing well over the last seasons. We have also added players who can learn what we expect from them so that they can help the team. It’s going to be exciting to see how they work together, and add to what we already have.”
In Suresh Wangjam, Amay Morajkar, Dipesh Chauhan, Thoi Singh and Emanuel Lalchhanchuaha, the Blues fulfilled the criteria for Developmental Players in the squad, which also comprised several players from the club’s Residential Academy and BFC B squad.
Juanan Gonzalez, Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu and Deshorn Brown are the foreign players retained by the Blues for the season, the side also added to their attack and defence with the signings of Kristian Opseth, Cleiton Silva and Fran Gonzalez.
“As a coach, it is always nice to have the right kind of selection problems. We have analysed last season to find areas that we can improve on, and have added players who can play in several positions in attack. We know that we created many chances in every game last year, but we have to work on converting more of those opportunities. It’s going to be an exciting season, and I believe we can be competitive again,” Cuadrat added further.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Lara Sharma, Dipesh Chauhan
Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Pratik Chaudhari, Harmanjot Khabra, Fran Gonzalez, Juanan Gonzalez, Ajith Kumar, Wungngayam Muirang, Joe Zoherliana, Parag Shrivas, Biswa Darjee
Midfielders: Dimas Delgado, Erik Paartalu, Ajay Chhetri, Namgyal Bhutia, Suresh Wangjam, Naorem Roshan Singh, Amay Morajkar, Thoi Singh, Emanuel Lalchhanchuaha
Attackers: Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva, Kristian Opseth, Deshorn Brown, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Leon Augustine, Thongkhosiem Haokip
