Bengaluru FC Head Coach Pep Muñoz outlines plans for 2026-27 season
This will be Pep Muñoz’s first full season with the Blues.
Bengaluru FC’s previous season was one of transition, with Renedy Singh taking charge of the side before Pep Muñoz arrived midway through the campaign and took over the reins. The change in the dugout came at a crucial stage of the season, leaving Muñoz with limited time to implement his ideas and make significant changes to a squad that had already been shaped under a different approach.
Despite the circumstances, the Spaniard was able to get a first look at the players and understand the demands of managing Bengaluru FC in the ISL.
The new season, however, presents a very different challenge. With a full pre-season at his disposal, Muñoz has had the opportunity to work with the squad from the beginning, develop his tactical ideas and have a greater say in preparing the team for the campaign ahead. Bengaluru have also undergone changes within the squad, with experienced figures continuing to provide the leadership while a younger generation looks to establish itself.
Ahead of the new season, Pep Muñoz spoke to Khel Now about his first full campaign with Bengaluru FC, the team’s playing identity, the balance between youth and experience, the development of the younger players, the importance of the club’s senior figures, squad building and recruitment, his ambitions for the season and what attracted him to the Bengaluru FC project.
Here are the excerpts from the interview
On why he chose Bengaluru FC
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The Spaniard arrived at Bengaluru FC midway through the previous campaign, taking charge at a time when the club was already well into its season. With his first full campaign now ahead of him, Muñoz reflected on what initially convinced him that Bengaluru was the right club for him.
“I think what drew me to Bengaluru FC was the identity that the club already had and the way they work with a mix of young players from the academy and experienced players in Indian football.
I was also attracted by the supporters. They understand football and are always behind us, pushing us, and then there is the city as well.
But, most importantly, it was about what we could build together here. It felt like a match between my football ideas and what the club wanted to offer its supporters.”
On managing Bengaluru FC from the beginning of the season
Having joined Bengaluru FC midway through the previous campaign, Muñoz had limited time to work on his ideas before the season came to an end. This time, the Spaniard has had a full pre-season to work with the squad, plan the team’s friendly matches and build towards the new campaign.
He explained how the additional time has allowed him to work more comfortably on the team’s style of play while also carrying forward the work that began towards the end of last season.
Yeah, as you said, it’s a long pre-season, but I take it in a positive way because we have a lot of weeks to work on our game idea. That was also a selling point when I came last season. I wanted to start this season, but I had already been working on this from last season to start working on that.
So we also have to count the last two months of last season as part of our work on the game idea, along with this pre-season.
We can work quite comfortably on that, with time and with the players that we have. They are progressing very well. I’m really happy to have this time, managing our friendly games and our training sessions the way we want, and planning our weeks of training.
So yeah, it’s been a really, really good pre-season, and we hope we can see the results of this once the league begins
On what has impressed him the most about the squad this pre-season
With a full pre-season to work with the squad, the gaffer has had considerably more time to assess his players and prepare them for the new campaign.
When asked if anyone had particularly impressed him during this period, the Bengaluru FC head coach highlighted the fitness levels, hunger and competitiveness within the group.
“A lot of them have come back in very good physical condition. Last season was short for them, with only 13 games, and as footballers, what they normally want is to play games. So, in that sense, last season wasn’t long enough for them.”
“They have come into this pre-season with a real ambition to train well, be competitive and be well prepared for when the league starts.
What I really appreciate is how hungry they have been every day and how competitive they are. Everyone wants to fight for their position and put themselves in a position to be selected for the games when the league starts”
On balancing experience with young talent
Bengaluru FC have entered the new season with a squad that combines established players with a group of young talents who have increasingly featured around the first team. Muñoz believes that balance can make the squad more competitive. Instead, the Spaniard wants the younger players to take another step forward and compete on the same terms as everyone else.
“I think, as a coach, this is exactly what we want, which is a blend of talent, experience and competitiveness. Part of my job is to make this squad as competitive as possible so that we can fight to win as many games as we can.
We have young players from the academy who are talented, and this season they have to take another step forward. They are doing that during pre-season, and they are showing me that I can count on them.
Normally, I don’t look at the age of a player, their nationality or anything else. I trust their work every day and what they show me on the pitch.
That makes our squad stronger this season because the young players who were competitive and getting minutes last season now have the confidence to be part of the first team. We have players we can use from the beginning of games, and, as I said, we have two players for each position. That will make us very competitive this season.”
On the importance of the senior players in the team
Bengaluru FC’s squad features several players with extensive experience at both club and international level, including Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Chinglensana Singh and Nikhil Poojary. With a younger group of players also competing for places in the first team, the Manager believes the senior figures have an important role to play beyond their performances on the pitch.
“They are an example for the younger generation. The young players just have to look at what these players have achieved in their careers and what they are still doing, and how consistent they have been over the years.
For me, it’s a pleasure to have these kinds of players in our dressing room because I see them training every day. But I also see how they are as people, how professional they are and how they take care of themselves both on and off the pitch. That is the best example for the young players we have, as well as for the players coming through our academy.
I think this is also an extra motivation and an extra value that we have here. These players have represented the national team, but they are still competitive players who can contribute and play important minutes for us.” Pep Munoz, Bengaluru FC.
On the qualities that have helped Bengaluru FC’s young players break into the first team
Bengaluru FC have increasingly looked towards their reserve setup and academy for players capable of making the step up to senior football. Soham Varshneya, Vineeth Venkatesh, Shivaldo Singh and Kevin Singh are among the young players who have made that transition, with several of them earning minutes last season.
“I am truly very confident about the young players and I trust them because of their incredible talent. They have a lot of talent in possession, they understand football well and have good vision.
Soham (Varshneya)was already getting minutes last season, and he showed that he was strong enough to compete in duels, even in tough games like the one against Jamshedpur. He was at the level we wanted him to be.
Vineeth Venkatesh has also shown his talent whenever he has been on the pitch. We also have Ricky and Kevin, and Kevin (Singh) is having a fantastic pre-season, especially playing on the wings. He is fast and sharp, and I think he is taking another step forward this season. We will be hopeful of him playing the games too.
The other players are pushing as well, including Shivaldo and the other academy players. Ricky finished last season by scoring goals in the final game, and he is also having a good pre-season. They are all pushing, and I consider them first-team players. Now they are competing to put themselves in a position to be selected for the games.” Bengaluru FC head coach stated.
On the new additions to Bengaluru FC’s squad
Bengaluru FC have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2026-27 season, bringing in three overseas additions in Sandro Embalo, Borja Martínez and Manuel De Iriondo. When asked how satisfied he was with the recruitment and whether the club could make further additions before the campaign begins this is what he said.
“So far I’m very happy with our signings. We have gone through a very thorough scouting process to identify more or less the profiles that we wanted. Obviously, the market is still open and, as a big club, we are always open and ready to improve the squad. But I’m very happy with the additions of Sandro Embalo and Borja Martínez.
Sandro is an experienced player and a leader in the back line. He is also very good in the build-up and brings valuable experience from Indonesia and other countries to strengthen our defence.
Borja (Martinez) is a talented player who can play in different positions across the front. He can play on the left wing, the right wing and in more central positions, so we can use his talent in different ways. He is also very good at set plays, and the way he delivers them is really impressive.
We also have Manuel De Iriondo, an Argentine midfielder who has joined us this season. He will bring experience to the midfield and can cover a lot of space. I’m very happy with these players. As I said, they will make us more competitive and help us to show the identity that we are building.” Bengaluru FC head coach stated.
Message to the Bengaluru FC supporters ahead of the season
With the new season approaching, Muñoz is eager to finally experience a full campaign with the Bengaluru FC supporters behind his team. The Spaniard wants the side’s performances, playing style and commitment on the pitch to make the fans proud, while also acknowledging that a long season will inevitably bring difficult moments along the way.
“First of all, we are very excited for the new season and to show our supporters our game idea and our style of play and to make them proud of us. We want them to see the effort we put into every game.
We are really excited to play our first match, and especially our first game at home, to see them all again. We need them. Obviously, we want to win games and make them happy, but the season is long, and every season brings difficult moments as well.
We know that we have the West Block Blues and all the supporters behind us because they are supporters who understand football. We are just excited to start the season and hopefully make them proud of us throughout the campaign.” He concluded
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Balancing her medical studies with a strong passion for Indian football, Preethi has been a dedicated follower of the sport. Her speciality is covering and discovering stories, talking to players, conducting their interviews, and drafting articles. She particularly covers Hyderabad FC and other stories from the ISL and I-League.