Announced: Chennaiyin FC squad for ISL 2019-20 season

The Marina Machans will look to improve on their disappointing campaign from last season.

Chennaiyin FC unveiled their squad for the 2019-2020 ISL season in Chennai on Wednesday. John Gregory, the head coach addressed the fans and the media, outlining his and the side’s aims for the campaign.  The Englishman was frank about his team's performance in the last campaign where they finished last in the ISL table, saying that he had been disappointed with the display of his overseas players last season and that the new squad was more prepared to compete in the competition.  “Our overseas players did not perform as well as they should have done last season, so we had to make some changes. We have only retained one of our foreigners from last season, which of course, is Eli Sabia. We have introduced six new foreign players into the squad and I must say that they have settled in very well. I am looking forward to, certainly a much better season than last year.” Gregory spoke about a  fresh approach this season, following the disastrous 2018-2019 campaign for the Chennaiyin FC squad, highlighting the need for his side to work harder this time around. Indian Super League 2019-20 Team Profile: Chennaiyin FC "After the poor performance in Season-5, we decided to make a fresh approach. Maybe we didn't work as hard as we had done in Season-4. We just freshened up everything,” said the Englishman.  “It is important to be ruthless. Maybe we were not ruthless in Season-5, which hurt our performances," Gregory said. "We've made necessary changes to our squad for the coming season and there's a lot of positivity in the camp. We've had a great pre-season in Ahmedabad and Jamshedpur and the boys have come together really well, a proper unit." "Now, it is important for us to carry this preparation and momentum into the new ISL season," Gregory said. Following the unveiling of the squad for the 2019-2020 campaign, the media was allowed to question the players on their thoughts about the team and the season ahead.  One of India and Chennaiyin's biggest stars, Anirudh Thapa when questioned about the feeling around the dressing room following such large scale changes to personnel, responded by saying that a change was needed and that he was excited for the season ahead.  “A new season with new faces and a fresh start. All we're focusing on is to gel well together and make a good start. That's all that matters right now," said Thapa. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] The Uttarakhand midfielder has been at it for club and country nonstop in the last 18 months, making the midfield role his own in both sides.  Thapa and new signing, Lallianzuala Chhangte will be a part of the Indian squad that will face Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Kolkata.  One of the major positives for Chennaiyin going into the campaign is the return of Dhanpal Ganesh following the midfielder's injury that ruled him out of the majority of last season.  When Ganesh was asked about the lack of a Tamilian influence in the current squad, he responded by pointing out that there were very few top sides from Tamil Nadu and that he himself had to go to FC Pune City to make a name before joining CFC. He also pointed out that Edwin Vanspaul had been roped in from I-League champions, Chennai City FC adding to the Tamil contingent in the squad.  Lucian Goian, one of the high-profile signings of Chennaiyin FC from Mumbai City, where he was a fan-favourite explained his decision to join the Marina Machans in the summer.  “From my very first contact with the club and the coach here, I have always trusted in the vision to win the ISL championship. It's a club that knows how to win and I trust the project and the coach to guide us in achieving success,” said the defender.  Gregory also refused to comment on who would wear the armband for the upcoming campaign, saying that the process of naming a captain was still ongoing.  Chennaiyin will kickoff their ISL season against FC Goa on the 23rd of October.  [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="RELATED NEWS | ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Chennaiyin FC 25-man squad for start of the 2019-20 ISL:

Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh, Vishal Kaith, Sanjiban Ghosh

Defenders: Eli Sabia (Brazil), Lucian Goian (Romania), Jerry Lalrinzuala, Edwin Vanspaul, Tondonba Singh, Laldinliana Renthlei, Zohmingliana Ralte, Hendry Antonay, Reamsochung Aimol, Deepak Tangri

Midfielders: Dhanpal Ganesh, Masih Saighani (Afghanistan), Thoi Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rafael Crivellaro (Brazil), Dragos Firtulescu (Romania)

Forwards: Nerijus Valskis (Lithuania), Andre Schembri (Malta), Jeje Lalpekhlua, Rahim Ali