ISL 2023-24 season review: Bengaluru FC

The Blues’ league performance in the 2023–24 season was inconsistent, and they just couldn’t live up to expectations

Bengaluru FC had a difficult Indian Super League (ISL) season in 2023–24 that was characterised by inconsistent play and unmet expectations. With just five victories from 22 games, the Blues ended 10th in the points table despite their best attempts to turn things around. Throughout the season, the team’s difficulties were apparent; they lacked cohesiveness and failed to seize decisive opportunities.

The Blues’ performances fell short of expectations even after they changed coaches in the middle of the season in an effort to inspire a turnaround. There were glimmers of progress under the new coach, as the group performed more in sync and showed a greater grasp of tactics.

These advancements, meanwhile, were insufficient to materially change the team’s expected results. Out of the 22 league games played, the Blues had seven losses and ten draws, demonstrating their inability to turn leads into wins. The club ultimately failed to live up to the high expectations of their devoted fan base, even with the best players on the team and their combined willpower.

Fact Sheet

Top Performers

Naorem Roshan Singh

Bengaluru FC’s defender Roshan Singh has been a consistent presence on the pitch during the 2023-24 Indian Super League season. With a total of 20 appearances, Singh has accumulated an impressive 1,709 minutes of playing time. The defender has managed to contribute with one assist in the league this season and has emerged winning an impressive 321 duels in total.

Additionally, Naorem Roshan has showcased his defensive prowess by successfully completing 83 interceptions and winning 87 tackles. In addition to making defensive contributions, the player also made valuable offensive contributions to the team. The player has certainly stood out, even among the high-profile foreign players, and has had a strong season despite the team’s challenges.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the custodian for BFC showed skill and perseverance throughout the 2023–2024 Indian Super League (ISL) season. Sandhu was the Blues’ last line of defence, and his record of starting every 22 league games emphasises how important he is to the team. The experienced goaltender stopped opponent shots well.

Sandhu this season made 70 saves and had 5 clean sheets in 22 games. His quick responses and commanding presence in the penalty area gave Bengaluru FC’s defenders hope and thus is one of the most notable players for Bengaluru FC in the 2023-24 season.

Under-Performer

Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernandez has made a name for himself in the Indian Super League (ISL). However, during his time with BFC, he failed to demonstrate his renowned abilities. Despite his presence in the upfront the team struggled to end their scoring woes. The creative midfielder has struggled to replicate his best form, finding the back of the net only 5 times this season. In contrast to his performance last season, where he managed to score 7 goals, he fell short of matching that tally this season.

Javi’s lacklustre performance this season has had a significant impact on the team’s creativity in midfield. The hopes of relying on Javi to provide that spark have been left unfulfilled. The performance of the Spanish player this season for Bengaluru FC was not up the par, which had a significant impact on the club’s overall standings in the 2023-24 season.

Top Performances

1. Bengaluru FC 2 – 1 East Bengal FC

2. Bengaluru FC 1 – 0 Kerala Blasters

3. Bengaluru FC 2 – 1 Hyderabad FC

4. Bengaluru FC 3 – 3 Punjab FC

Manager’s Report Card

Gerard Zaragoza

Bengaluru FC under Gerard Zaragoza underwent a transition, with signs of progress and a newfound purpose. But then Zaragoza’s ideas and efficient tactics failed to place Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League’s top six. As Zaragoza devised measures to maximise the team’s potential, the team’s dynamics changed. The manager’s smart management and tactical skills created a feeling of unity among the players, boosting their on-field performance.

Certain players displayed a fresh sense of competence and confidence on the pitch, demonstrating Zaragoza’s ability to bring the most out of his team. Zaragoza’s tenure at Bengaluru FC presented a contrast to the challenges faced by his predecessor, Simon Grayson, as he navigated the intricacies of managing the team. While Grayson encountered difficulties in extracting consistent performances from the squad, Zaragoza’s arrival brought about a semblance of stability and direction, albeit falling short of achieving the desired results.

Despite Zaragoza’s efforts, Bengaluru FC was not able to finish in the top six of the ISL. Nonetheless, the team’s improvement under his leadership boded well for further attempts with steady development and improvement and can turn out more positive if he continues the next season.

Lessons to be learned

Having a talented squad does not always guarantee success on the field. Despite boasting a strong roster, Bengaluru FC failed to achieve the desired results, highlighting the importance of consistency and unity within the team. Consistency among players emerged as a key factor in determining the team’s performance throughout the season.

While individual brilliance can certainly make a difference, it is the collective effort and cohesion of the entire squad that ultimately translates into success on the pitch. Bengaluru FC’s inability to maintain consistency in their performances hindered their ability to secure positive results consistently. As Bengaluru FC reflects on their season, they must prioritize building a cohesive team ethos, fostering consistency among players, and cultivating a winning mentality.

It will be essential to pinpoint their weak points and fix them if they want to improve in the upcoming season. The club’s displeasure with the 2023–24 ISL season will force them to reorganise and start over. The Blues will want to get back to their winning ways and restore their position as contenders in Indian football with a fresh outlook and a dedication to development.

Fan View

We can’t really pinpoint what actually went wrong; it was just not our season. A positive thing I would take out of this season would be how few players performed admirably despite all the difficulties. What makes me keep supporting BFC is the immense love I have for the club. I have been a day 1 supporter and the way our players give everything on and off the pitch.

This season it’s about realizing not only our strengths but also our weaknesses and coming back stronger and prepared for the next season.

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