Kolkata: The I-league 2016 is over and it’s Bengaluru FC who has been emerged champions for the second time in three years. Ranti Martins of East Bengal was the highest scorer with 12 goals from 16 matches. This I-league has been very competitive from match day 1. There were lots of ups and downs this time with the points table being unpredictable. Aizawl FC, the newly promoted side this year could not continue for another year in the topmost league in India as they were relegated finishing 8th in the table. There were lots of shear talents who made a mark this year in the likes of Jeje, Rino Anto, Bikash Jairu, Udanta Singh etc.
Xtratime.in had a chance to speak with five Indian coaches who have coached their respective sides and they themselves selected their best XI from this I-League:
Biswajit Bhattacharya (East Bengal): Although, Biswajit Bhattacharya resigned mid-way through the league after a humiliating loss Bnegaluru FC, he had coached the Red and Gold for almost the most number of matches. He has set up his team in a 4-4-2 formation with Curtis Osano and Sandesh Jhingan controlling the defence while Ranti Martins and Jeje leading upfront.
Derrick Pereira (DSK Shivajians): Derrick Pereira who is considered as the most educated Indian coach, India have ever produced has gone with a defensive formation 4-2-3-1 which is the most talked about formation these days in World football. he has gone with a lone striker Sunil Chhetri while John Johnson and Sandesh Jhingan will be controlling the defence.
Khalid Jamil (Mumbai FC): Khalid Jamil who is known as an ultra-defensive coach in India for his compact defensive formation during matches. The results had also reflected the same. Mumbai FC have the most no. of stalemate in the I-league and the Cooperage had become a nightmare for other coaches to earn a victory from that ground. Although, the gaffer preferred a 4-4-2 formation to start with but it is obvious that he will be changing it according to match situations which he is known for.
Jahar Das (Aizawl FC): The gaffer took charge of the highlanders in the mid way through the season. He has coached Aizawl Fc for almost most number of matches and according to him his team too will be a 4-4-2 formation side. He has stressed on a young side with hilly boys upfront in the likes of Jeje and Vanlalrendika while his defence wiil be comprising of duo Arnab Mondal and Bello Rasaq.
Thangboi Singto (Shillong Lajong FC): The Lajong gaffer who has been in the ranks of I-league for quite a while since its inception has an idea of each and every team as he reads the game well. The best XI of Singto is: Amrinder (BFC), Rino Anto (BFC), Bello (EB), Johnson (BFC), Chuaante(BFC), Sanju (EB), Eugensen (BFC), Taisuke (MFC), Nicholas (SCG), Jeje (MB), Glen(MB).
After evaluating all the above playing XI from the five various coaches, we xtratime.in has selected our own best possible playing XI from the above with four foreigners and seven Indians. lets have a look at it below:
GK: Debjit Majumdar (MB), RB: Rino Anto (BFC), CB: John Johnson (BFC), Sandesh Jhingan (DSK), LB: Ricky (AFC), CDM: Eugensen Lyngdoh (BFC), Pronoy Halder (MB), RW: Katsumi Yusa (MB), LW: Sony Norde (MB), FOR: Jeje (MB), Ranti (KEB)