ISL Final: 5 things new Indian Football team coach can learn from BFC's title triumph

Bengaluru FC has finally been crowned the champions of Indian Super League (ISL), after a season of tough competition. The header goal from Rahul Bheke in extra time was not just a milestone for BFC but for the whole Indian football community.

Unlike the other seasons, 2018-19 was a year that brought about notable changes to the league. At the end of all these, ISL has a new champion and a bunch of things to build the national team upon.

A group of young players is not the only thing ISL can offer to the national team. Apart from these, the Indian side can adopt various strategies and measures to improve performance on and off the field. By the introduction of this new league, Indian players were opened up to a new face of the game. From Romeo Fernandes to Lalrinzuala Chhangte, various players have received trials at foreign clubs. The players still playing in India were rejuvenated to Spanish and English football styles.

The wait for Indian national team’s coach is nearing the third month. A new gaffer, who can be appointed any time has a lot to learn from the Indian leagues.

Now we see 5 things the new Indian coach can adopt from Bengaluru FC’s maiden ISL title.

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#1 Professionalism

Professionalism is something ISL has improved with every season, but the national team has kept out of the door. This would be the first lesson for India’s new coach as the national team too has been a reflection of this drawback.

A club like Bengaluru FC has set an example to all other clubs in the country. They have a devoted fan group - West Block Blues, who accompany the club. The JSW-owned franchise has also been the advocate of European football culture in India. Out of all its activities, the social media engagements and pre-match build-ups keep the games active.

Even at that point of time when the league itself found it difficult to find viewers, BFC had no trouble; thanks to its fresh professional ideas. Moreover, it has been the adoption of a new culture to Indian football that has drifted the Bengaluru people from European clubs to the local boys.

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#2 Setting Up a Core

The BFC management took a bold decision in choosing Carles Cuadrat as Albert Roca’s successor.

Inconsistency has been a hated companion of many Indian clubs. Both in ISL and I-League we have seen numerous clubs falling from top to bottom, at the lapse of a few months. The latest example of this remains Chennaiyin FC.

However, Bengaluru FC stands out here with 6 trophies in their 6 seasons. The quality of management highlighted here is setting up the core of the club.

For a team like India, having a core to revolve their matches around is crucial. The players develop combinations over time which need to be carried on for a few years. The nucleus of successful clubs is seen to be the same for seasons. Even the coaching staffs are not altered all of a sudden. At Bengaluru FC, the management took a bold decision in choosing Carles Cuadrat (without any prior experience as a senior coach) as Albert Roca’s successor. But the same ensured that the club objectives remained the same which ultimately became a success.

Like Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh who have been with the Blues for some time now, the Indian national team too requires consistent players in its outfit.

#3 Distinct Identity

West Block Blues

Indian Super League (ISL) has given clubs a lesson of having their own distinct identity. From just an ordinary football match, the home games of Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters grew to a noticed event, overtime. Though Blasters couldn’t keep on their record attendances, BFC has set up a strong identity for themselves.

Even with activities off the field, Bengaluru is a perfect example of public interaction and crowd pulling. Being identified by the common people of the country is a great feat for a football club, in a country like India.

However, the national team is often seen to concentrate only at certain fields. The managers who have graced the seats over these years have taken very little effort to gain support and develop an identity. The home games of the national senior team have only started attracting crowds recently. That too is often at the initiative of ISL fan clubs. It is now time for the Indian team to have a unified fan group like Manjappada or West Block Blues and an identity of their own.

#4 Understanding of Indian football scenario

Indian senior team which played the Asian Cup 2019 had three of its key players from the BFC camp.

For a manager taking up a new challenge, there is no better option than a fully-covered league, to familiarise with the conditions. The current scenario in the football map and the calibers of the players can be very well evaluated through ISL.

Taking the case of the new champions, it is evident that the players have effectively adapted to Carles Cuadrat’s Spanish tactics. The strategies which can be successfully implemented in the Indian outfit can be drafted from the ISL campaign. Indian senior team which played the Asian Cup 2019 had three of its key players from the BFC camp - Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Udanta Singh.

Domestic players were often found with a problem of low fitness in the early seasons of the league. But, the good training conditions that were available raised the players’ standard. Similarly, a question of who after Sunil Chhetri is unanswered at the national team. One long term objective of the coming head coach would be to find out a reliable and consistent performer in attack for the Indian team.

#5 Uniting the side

India at the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

The end of ISL is the perfect time for a new gaffer to take up the position. With many clubs contributing a number of players to the national camps, they now have better understanding and communication.

The games at the Asian Cup earlier this year saw a crucial weapon being developed from Gurpreet Singh’s goal kicks to Udanta Singh on the right wing. There were also numerous occasions when the opponents were troubled by the winger’s chemistry with skipper Sunil Chhetri. Rahul Bheke is yet another name who has been waiting for that final call to the national team. Having a player from one club at all departments will never do the team any harm.

Indian Super League has also raised standards in terms of fair play. Even players from different clubs have made good use of their understanding, at the Indian team. The coach will be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each player. Also, the style of play that most ISL coaches adopt can be tested at the Indian team so that the players tweak in a short time.