Bengaluru FC begin AFC Cup campaign against Paro FC

The Blues will be looking to conquer their first prize in Asia after missing out on the tournament in 2017.

Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru FC will mark their return to continental football with an AFC Cup Preliminary Stage Two clash against Bhutan Premier League Side, Paro FC, at the Changlimithang Stadium, in Thimphu, on Wednesday. Despite temperatures that have been hovering around the one-degree mark, the Blues’ boss is hopeful that Bengaluru can overcome the impediment and make it through to the next stage.

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“We have been preparing very well because we love to represent India at the continental stage. The AFC Cup brings back good memories, travelling all over Asia to play semi-finals and finals. It’s great to be back in this competition and I hope we will have a good game of football against Paro FC,” said Cuadrat, addressing the media on the eve of the game.

In what adds an interesting sub-plot, former Blues’ winger Chencho Gyeltshen will turn out for the hosts tomorrow. The all-time top scorer for the Bhutanese National Team, Chencho scored two goals during his time with Cuadrat’s side in the Indian Super League and scored three times over two legs in Paro’s Preliminary Stage win over Defenders FC.

“Chencho is a great footballer and an even better person. I'm very happy that I will be meeting him again. He's a player with a lot of quality for sure - he’s quick and has a good eye for goal - and I am sure that our defence will have to be at its best to keep him in check,” Cuadrat added.

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Bengaluru FC Pre-match conference

Club captain Sunil Chhetri is part of a 30-man squad that the Blues have registered for the preliminary stages of the tournament, and Cuadrat believes that the regulations allow him to hand opportunities to youngsters.

“The Indian Super League squad can only have 25 players, but the AFC allows me to register five more. There are nine players from my B Team who are part of the squad for the AFC Cup and I believe that they have the talent to represent the first team. It will be nice for some of them to play a game like this,” said Cuadrat.

Paro, founded in 2018 and managed by Jangchuk Dorji, qualified to the Preliminary Stage Two of the AFC Cup by virtue of a 5-5 aggregate win over Defenders FC. The Tigers won their first National League title with the 2019 edition of the Bhutan Premier League.

The Blues are currently placed third in the Indian Super League table, two points adrift of both FC Goa and ATK. The game at the Changlimithang Stadium kicks off at 2.30 pm local time (2 pm IST).