Khel Now logo
HomeSportsICC Men's T20 World CupLive Cricket Score
Advertisement

ISL- Indian Super League

Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala shares about preparations ahead of the ISL 2025-26 opener

From the stands to the study desk, Niranjan covers Indian football and beyond.
Published at :February 14, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Modified at :February 14, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala shares about preparations ahead of the ISL 2025-26 opener

Blasters will face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the ISL 2025-26 season opener

The Indian Super League (ISL) is all set to kick off within hours, as Mohun Bagan Super Giant will host Kerala Blasters FC for the inaugural match of the Indian Super League 2025-26 on the 14th of February, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharthi Krirangan. With renewed hopes and a completely restructured squad, the Blasters will take charge on the field, eying their maiden title.

Ahead of their first match, the Kerala Blasters FC Head coach David Catala, along with Danish Farooq, sat for the pre-match press conference. From pre-season preparations to uncertainties, here’s a detailed report on the pre-match press conference for the Indian Super League 2025-26 match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters FC.

About the Pre-Season Preparations

Catala admitted that the Blasters have not had their best pre-season preparations for the campaign. The short span of two weeks was not enough to get ready for the start of the Indian Super League. However, the gaffer stated that he doesn’t want to make any excuses, citing these reasons.

Catala reassured that the Blasters are going to play their best football against all the opponents. The players, despite the time constraints, have been dedicated to the training and have stayed mentally focused. He then shared his excitement on arriving at Kolkata to kick off the league and put emphasis on the fact that the Blasters are going to compete in all their games in the best way possible.

‘It’s true that we haven’t had the best preparation in the matter of time. With fourteen days of preparation, in my opinion is not enough for the start of the competition. But okay, I am not a person who puts excuses; we are going to face them in the best manner we can. The players have been training really good these days and we are going to try to compete in the first game.’

‘We are really excited to be here, to be opening the league, something that we have been waiting for a long time, and we have done the best preparation we can have, and at least the players are mentally focused and ready to compete tomorrow’

About the new foreign recruits

When asked about the foreign roster of the Blasters, the manager said that all the foreign players who were associated with the club have left the club, and now they naturally have a completely new foreign unit. He added that all the players who joined the Blasters ahead of the season have not been playing for a professional club for a while and needed some time to adapt.

Apart from the five new foreigners, Rowlin and Salah, all the players who are currently with the team were a part of the Blasters last year and knew each other well. He added that the group is fantastic, with high morale and expectations, and they would do a good job this season.

‘All the foreign players we had in the previous season left. We have signed five new players, so they still need time to adapt. They came because they were without a team and preparation for a long time. Rest of the squad, taking out Rowlin and Salah were here from the previous year, so they know each other’

‘The group is really fantastic and they are training really good and we have good expectations about the season and they are going to do a good job’

On Bikash Yumnam, captaining the side at such a young age

David Catala was asked about the thought process of the management and the coaching staff when the captain’s armband was given to Bikash Yumnam, who is one of the youngest players in the squad. The manager replied that he did not bother about the age of Bikash, and it was the player’s capability to lead the side that mattered at the end of the day.

“For me, the age is not a problem. To be the club’s captain, it doesn’t matter if you are older or younger; it is always about the capacity to lead the team. I see him with a good personality. He is a young player, but when he is on the pitch, he has the personality to lead the team. This is what I want from my players. So it doesn’t matter to me if he is young. I need players with personality, and of course, Bikash is one of them,” said David Catala on Bikash Yumnam

On facing Mohun Bagan in the season opener

The gaffer validated that Mohun Bagan, coming to the tournament as the defending champions are one of the strongest sides in the country. They had been training for a relatively long time as compared to the fourteen days of preparation of the Blasters.

The match against Mohun Bagan would be a tough one for the men in yellow. However, the Blasters are also coming for the match with the best possible training and in football, it is not the squad value but rather the vision and sacrifice of the team that leads them to victory.

‘Its true that they are the defending champions, one of the biggest clubs in the country, actually. But in football, anything can happen. We have come here with the best expectations. It is going to be a tough game. They didn’t stop training and have been training for all this period, when we didn’t know what could happen. We have come here with 14 days of preparation, and we are going to be the underdog team. But in football, with vision, sacrifice and compromise, whatever can happen’

On the plus and weaknesses of their opponents

He later added that he is expecting a different playing style from Mohun Bagan this year since Sergio Lobera has taken charge instead of Jose Molina. Catala expects that Mohun Bagan will keep more possession of the ball as he has done for his previous teams. Additionally, the strongest point for them is the quality of their players, especially their foreign players, who can help the team when instructed.

‘It is true that they have changed their coach. Instead of Molina, now they have Sergio Lobera. I think we can expect that maybe their style of playing is going to be different from last season. And I suppose with Lobera in the team, they will be more proactive with the ball, keep more possession like he used to do in the previous teams’

‘But we know that their biggest point is their foreign players. In set pieces and other situations, they will be strong. They have a high quality. But of course I won’t say their weakest point, maybe for tomorrow’s game we can try to damage their team. Like all the teams, they have points, which I think we can damage if we are doing the correct things’

However, Catala says that like all other teams, Mohun Bagan has their own weaknesses, and the Blasters will be trying to damage the weaknesses by doing the right things.

Danish Farooq speaks on the uncertainty

Danish opened up that it was a difficult few months for the players amidst the uncertainty. However, all the players are currently excited for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to kick off tomorrow. The match against Mohun Bagan would be a great opportunity for all the players to get back on the pitch and display their potential.

‘It’s been a very difficult period, as everyone knows that there was a lot of uncertainty. But finally we are here, and tomorrow we are playing our first game, so all the players are very excited to play, and that too against Mohun Bagan. So I think it’s a good opportunity for all the players and I’m sure it’s going to be a good game.’

He then added that the difficulties were not only surrounding the players. It affected the management, coaching staffs and the fans. He expressed his delight at returning to the pitch and playing football again in front of the fans.

‘We all know that it has been a difficult time not only for the players but also for the coaches and fans. So, all I can say is tomorrow it would be good to see all the fans on the ground’

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.

Niranjan R Prabhu
Niranjan R Prabhu

Niranjan R Prabhu is an Economics student from Kochi with an enduring passion for Indian football, especially as a devoted Kerala Blasters FC fan — a club he considers part of his life. Beyond the game, he writes on culture, Indian economic development, and sustainability, always eager to explore ideas in depth. His days are a balancing act between college, writing, and travel.