Indian football enters the 2025–26 season under a cloud of uncertainty. Delays around league scheduling, structural ambiguity, and a disrupted competitive calendar have defined the buildup. The Super Cup earlier last year offered only a brief return to action, and for Chennaiyin FC, it exposed how far the side still has to go to regain rhythm and cohesion.
The previous ISL season ended in disappointment for the Marina Machans. Inconsistency, defensive lapses, and an inability to control midfield phases undermined a campaign that otherwise showed flashes of attacking promise. Those unresolved issues, combined with the broader instability around Indian football, eventually led to Owen Coyle’s exit — a decision shaped as much by timing and uncertainty as by results alone.
Chennaiyin responded with a pragmatic appointment, naming Clifford Miranda as head coach. Only the second full-time Indian head coach in ISL history, Miranda’s arrival reflects the realities of an uncertain calendar and tighter budgets, with stability and adaptability taking precedence over short-term ambition.
Transfer Window:
Chennaiyin’s transfer window was measured rather than expansive. Instead of wholesale changes, the club focused on correcting specific weaknesses — midfield balance, physical presence, and attacking cohesion — while retaining a familiar Indian core.
The additions of Alberto Noguera, Ali Bemmamar, Iñigo Martin, Eduardo Kau, and domestic signing Imran Khan were aimed at addressing those gaps. Each arrival brings experience and tactical flexibility, fitting into a squad designed to function within defined roles rather than individual stardom.
Ali Bemmamar is already familiar with ISL demands following his earlier stint with NorthEast United, reducing the adaptation curve. Noguera arrives as one of the league’s most accomplished midfielders, having featured for Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, and Mumbai City FC.
Foreign contingent:
Alberto Noguera stands out as Chennaiyin’s most influential signing. A technically refined midfielder, he excels at controlling tempo, occupying intelligent spaces between the lines, and dictating the rhythm of play. While defensive transitions may test his mobility, his positional awareness and game intelligence compensate effectively.
Ali Bemmamar provides balance alongside him. Strong in duels, disciplined in positioning, and aggressive without the ball, he performs the defensive work that allows creative players to operate freely. His previous ISL experience makes him a stabilizing presence rather than a high-risk gamble.
Iñigo Martin and Eduardo Kau complete the foreign contingent. Martin offers link-up play, pressing from the front, and movement that brings others into the game, while Kau adds recovery pace and versatility in defense. Elsinho’s return after missing Super Cup action adds continuity and dressing-room familiarity — a valuable asset in a season shaped by uncertainty — while the status of Chima Chukwu remains unclear, leaving some uncertainty in attacking depth.
Indian contingent:
Chennaiyin’s Indian core covers every line of the pitch and will play a decisive role in shaping the Playing XI. In goal, Samik Mitra and Mohammed Nawaz remain the primary options, while Mohanraj K and Devansh Dabas provide additional depth in the goalkeeping department. Nawaz’s experience is likely to give him the edge in a possession-based setup that demands calm distribution and command inside the box.
Defensively, Chennaiyin have depth and variety. Ankit Mukherjee, Laldinliana Renthlei, PC Laldinpuia, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, and Pritam Kotal offer multiple options across the defensive line. New additions Klusner Pereira and Raj Basfore, who featured during the Super Cup, add further cover, while experienced names such as Mandar Rao Dessai, along with Jahangir Ali strengthen defensive depth and provide tactical flexibility.
In midfield, the Indian presence provides energy and rotation. Jiteshwor Singh remains central to ball recovery and structural balance, while Farukh Choudhary, Jitendra Singh, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Maheson Singh, and Kingslee Fernandes offer versatility across central and wide midfield roles. In attack, Karthick Thirumalai, Gurkirat Singh, Vivek S, Irfan Yadwad, and Imran Khan provide pace, pressing, and depth — attributes that will be crucial in supporting the foreign striker within Clifford Miranda’s structured attacking framework.
Coach:
Clifford Miranda’s appointment marks a clear philosophical shift. Chennaiyin are moving away from reactive football toward a more structured, possession-oriented approach, built on compact defensive organisation, defined pressing triggers, and positional discipline in possession.
Miranda is widely regarded as one of the sharper tactical minds in Indian football. His most notable achievement remains guiding Odisha FC to Super Cup success in 2023, where his side showed tactical clarity, controlled possession phases, and an attacking structure built on spacing and movement. He places strong emphasis on Indian players, simplifies roles within a clear framework, and focuses on collective execution rather than individual expression.
At Chennaiyin, his task is more corrective than cosmetic. The priority will be to address defensive lapses, restore midfield control, and develop cohesive attacking combinations, with the broader objective of building a competitive side capable of sustaining performances across the season.
Pre-season:
With almost nine months without regular competitive football apart from the Super Cup, Chennaiyin’s pre- season has been about returning to fundamentals. The emphasis has been on rebuilding match fitness, restoring rhythm, strengthening team bonding, and gradually introducing tactical principles under the new coaching setup.
A closed-door practice match against Loyola College reportedly saw Chennaiyin score multiple goals, with Iñigo Martin and Imran Khan among those involved, though details remain unofficial.
A reported behind-closed-doors friendly against newly promoted Inter Kashi also took place, in which Chennaiyin lost by two goals, providing a useful opportunity to identify areas for improvement and strengthen team bonding as the side continues to build fitness amid an uncertain calendar.
X-Factor:
Alberto Noguera — at 36, Chennaiyin are relying on experience and game intelligence rather than physicality. In previous ISL seasons, Noguera has shown his ability to control matches through positioning, ball retention, and decision-making. Last season, the absence of a midfielder who could dictate play and connect attacking phases hurt Chennaiyin, contributing to long goal droughts.
If Noguera finds his rhythm early, his influence could restore balance and creativity in midfield, much like Rafael Crivellaro did during the club’s most successful years and help Chennaiyin rediscover that level of control.
Predicted XI:
Miranda’s preferred approach (4-2-3-1) suggests a possession-based but proactive setup.
Mohammed Nawaz (GK), Ankit Mukherjee, Pritam Kotal, Eduardo Kau, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Ali Bemmamar, Jiteshwor Singh, Alberto Noguera, Irfan Yadwad, Imran Khan, Iñigo Martin.
This combination offers defensive stability through a double pivot, allows Noguera freedom between the lines, and uses energetic wide players to support Iñigo Martin, aligning with Miranda’s preference for controlled possession and structured attacking play.
Season predictions:
With no playoff system this season and the table-topper crowned champions, consistency takes on greater importance than ever. Settled squads with structural clarity hold a significant advantage across the campaign.
Chennaiyin may not begin the season as title favourites and are often written off in early assessments, but the presence of relegation this season has forced the club to plan with greater clarity and stability. By using the winter transfer window effectively to address key gaps, Chennaiyin have built a competitive squad.
Their opening ISL fixture — an away match against Mumbai City FC on 19 February at the Mumbai Football Arena — will offer an early indication of how quickly Clifford Miranda’s ideas have settled. If he can identify his best XI early and maintain consistency across the league, Chennaiyin could emerge as underdogs capable of unsettling stronger sides — and, in the right circumstances, even pushing toward a third piece of silverware.
What’s next for Chennaiyin FC:
Chennaiyin FC will begin their ISL 2025–26 campaign with a challenging away fixture against Mumbai City FC on 19 February, at the Mumbai Football Arena. The opening match will offer an early indication of how quickly Clifford Miranda’s ideas have settled, particularly in terms of defensive organization, midfield control, and game management under pressure.
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