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With India's Premier Football League, the I-League less than a week away, Sportskeeda analyses the chances of East Bengal winning the I-League in the upcoming season. Have a look at the five reasons why we think the Red and Golds from the Mecca of Indian Football can win their maiden I-League title this time around.
#5 Revamped team
With the Indian Super League running parallel with the I-League, East Bengal were forced to give away several of their big names to the cash rich franchise tournament .Rehenesh TP, Narayan Das, Rahul Bheke, Jackichand Singh, David Lalrinmuana, Romeo Fernandes, Rowlin Borges, Mehtab Hossain, Abhinas Ruidas, T.Haokip and Robin Gurung were the players who were picked up by the ISL Franchises. East Bengal also released Ivan Bukenya and Wedson Anselme after a disappointing 2016-17 season.
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This change of the roster can be a blessing in disguise as this brings out a lot of fresh energy and unpredictability in the squad. East Bengal promoted several academy graduates like Prakash Sarkar, Mehtab Singh and Deepak Kumar to the first team which will add the important factor of being pubescent into the team. East Bengal brought in Brandon Vanlalremdika, Lalramchullova, Laldanmawia Ralte, Gabriel Fernandes, VP Suhair and a few other rising Indian stars which can be very vital in East Bengal's upcoming I-League adventures.
The Red and Golds have also brought in changes in their coaching staff as well by roping in I-League winning manager Khalid Jamil who wrote a beautiful fairytale by winning the I-League with Aizawl FC last season. His reading of the game and placidity can prove vital to eke out results in tough games.
The club's management did yet another brilliant job by snapping up Mohun Bagan fan favourite Katsumi Yusa to the team. His abilities will prove lethal upfront. To add on to this, Mahmoud Al-Amna was also snapped up from Aizawl FC, whose brilliant ability to hold-up play will help the forwards get better service from the midfield.
East Bengal also brought in Djar Miranda Garcia, who was pivotal in Mohun Bagan's recent success on the national level, as their physical trainer for the upcoming season.
#4 Unbeaten Calcutta Football League campaign
East Bengal added yet another CFL : Calcutta Football League title to their trophy cabinet thus winning it for a record 39th time. An unbeaten campaign with a Kolkata Derby draw is sure to leave a positive impact on the team's chemistry and can prove pivotal in the upcoming I-League campaign.
With most of the players choosing ISL over the I-League, it looked as if Mohun Bagan or Mohammedan will take the city title away from the hands of Red and Golds. East Bengal retained their 8th title on the row by defeating every team on their way to the title except their rivals Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan SC.
The Calcutta Football League allowed Khalid Jamil to test various combinations and give chances to the youngsters in the team thus allowing them a platform to prove their inclusion in the senior team for the I-League.
#3 A successful pre-season
I-League clubs always looked inferior to the cash rich ISL sides in terms of first team quality but the Kolkata giants, East Bengal proved everybody wrong by registering two comprehensive wins over the ISL franchises in their pre-season games.
East Bengal got off to a good start with a 1-1 draw with ISL newcomers Bengaluru FC. However, they suffered a 3-1 defeat in the twin friendly. East Bengal then suffered another defeat to FC Pune City before ending up with two wins over FC Goa and ISL debutants Jamshedpur FC by a scoreline of 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.
The positive end to a competitive pre-season campaign will surely leave a positive impact on the teams. In the earlier seasons, East Bengal used to play friendlies with relatively weaker Calcutta Football League sides, but the friendlies with some of the best teams in the country has allowed Khalid Jamil to test his team's strengths and proper combinations.
#2 Matches at the Salt Lake stadium
After playing in the Barasat stadium and Kanchenjunga stadium in the previous seasons, East Bengal are back to their traditional home ground - The Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata also known as the Salt Lake stadium.
East Bengal suffered several heat and injury concerns in the previous I-League seasons, due to the Barasat stadium's astroturf. With the return to the Salt Lake stadium, it allows East Bengal to put a rest to the injury problems.
Salt Lake stadium's wide pitch will allow better opportunities to the wingers and suit Khalid Jamil's style of hold-up play.
#1 The long wait for an I-League title
With the All India Football Federation (AIFF) looking at a possible merger of the ISL and the I-League, this may well be the last chance for East Bengal to retain their long lost glory at the national stage by winning the I-League.
East Bengal officials have often asserted that they want to play the ISL on their own terms and this may well happen in the 2018-19 season which leaves East Bengal with possibly one final opportunity to win the I-League which is in its most exciting phase with extreme competitiveness.
East Bengal have failed to win the national league in the last 14 years which comes on as an added pressure for the side. Fans have often staged protests showing discontentment with the officials and the players over several dismal seasons.
With arch rivals Mohun Bagan looking over their shoulders, the onus is now entirely on East Bengal to prove their mettle. With tickets rumored to be priced as low as possible, bigger turnouts are expected which can add to the team spirit of East Bengal.
The Red and Golds will kick off their I-League campaign next week when they host defending champions Aizawl FC.
