East Bengal's trophy delight, Mohun Bagan’s misery and other talking points from Kalinga Super Cup 2024

East Bengal break 12-year trophy jinx to claim the title.

“Joy Maa kali” was the (war) cry at the conclusion of the Kalinga Super Cup, where Odisha FC were outplayed by  Carles Cuadrat’s team in the final held in Bhubaneshwar, winning  the national trophy that was elusive for East Bengal for 12-year-longs  On the other hand, Sergio Lobera’s Odisha FC could not defend their title at home.

The Kalinga Super Cup 2024 commenced amidst the International break, with matches unfolding without the participation of National Team stars engaged in the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. To address the impact on clubs coping with the absence of their national team players, the AIFF governing council made adjustments to the rules, permitting the inclusion of 6 foreign players in the starting 11. 

We at KhelNow present you the key talking points from the tournament.

Carles Cuadrat’s magic with East Bengal

In the summer, East Bengal FC underwent a significant overhaul, appointing former Bengaluru FC manager Carles Cuadrat as the head coach. The club made substantial investments, putting together a competitive squad. While not boasting the strongest lineup on paper compared to other teams. The Kolkata Giants, ended up winning the tournament in their debut campaign under Cuadrat, winning a national trophy that was elusive for them for 12 years

On their journey to the final, East Bengal comfortably dispatched Hyderabad FC and Sreenidi. However, the defining moment came when they triumphed over their cross-town rivals, Mohun Bagan, securing a place in the knockout stage against Jamshedpur FC. East Bengal navigated past the Jamshedpur FC challenge with ease, earning themselves a spot in the final. The Bangals won the final game in extra time against Odisha FC to claim the title.

Odisha FC slip in the final

Odisha FC were one of the favorites going into the tournament, due to two primary reasons , the first being playing at home while the second one was due to majority of core players being retained as Amrinder Singh was the only notable absentee as he was representing the national side.

Navigating through a challenging group stage, Odisha FC dominated against FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, and I-League debutants Inter Kashi to secure a spot in the semi-finals. In the semi-final clash, they overcame Mumbai City FC with a 1-0 victory. The home side , could not overcome the East Bengal challenge in the final.

Mohun Bagan’s misery continues

Despite making significant changes during the summer, the other Kolkata giants, Mohun Bagan, once again find themselves exiting the Super Cup due to lackluster performances. Throughout the tournament, Mohun Bagan appeared unconvincing, having to battle until the end against an all-Indian Hyderabad FC side. A similar scenario unfolded in their first game against I-League side Sreenidi Deccan. However, the final blow came in the match against East Bengal, where they were convincingly defeated 3-1.

Now under the management of Antonio Lopez Habas, Mohun Bagan must swiftly turn around their fortunes in the second phase of the ISL if they aim to contend for silverware at the end of the season. The need for improved results is evident for the team to make a significant impact moving forward.

Gerard Zarogaza’s difficult start at Bengaluru FC

Gerard Zarogaza took charge mid-season as Bengaluru FC faced early struggles under Simon Grayson. Unfortunately, the change in leadership did not yield the desired improvement, and Bengaluru FC failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Compounding their challenges, the team had to compete the tournament without key players who were away representing the national team.

Looking ahead, Bengaluru FC will need to elevate their performance significantly in the second half of the ISL if they harbor ambitions of making it to the playoffs. The team must raise their game and address the shortcomings to enhance their chances of a stronger finish in the remainder of the season.

I-League Teams failing to put up a good show.

The Super Cup witnessed limited participation from I-League sides, with only five teams expressing interest, and ultimately, only four of them progressed to the group stages. However, none of these teams were able to assert their dominance in the competition, highlighting the substantial gap in quality between the 1st and 2nd divisions of the Indian football pyramid.

The disparity in performance among the participating I-League teams highlighted the challenges and differences that exist between the top and lower tiers of Indian football.

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