ISL 2024-25: Durand champion NorthEast United FC aims positive start against debutant Mohammedan SC

Mohammedan won the I-League 2023-24 campaign to earn its place in the ISL, whereas the Highlanders had finished the previous season in the top tier at the seventh spot.

Mohammedan Sporting Club team with the ISL trophy during the Indian Super League (ISL) preseason media day in Kolkata, September 4, 2024. | Photo Credit: Focus Sports/ FSDL

Mohammedan Sporting (MDSC) will make its Indian Super League debut against Durand Cup winner NorthEast United FC at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on Monday.

FOLLOW THE MATCH LIVE | Mohammedan Sporting vs NorthEast United LIVE score

MDSC, which joins the country’s top league as the winner of the previous season’s I-League will have its task cut out against a side that finished seventh in the ISL last season.

MSDC’s head coach Andrey Chernyshov said the team will aim to make the top six in the final standings and qualify for the knockout stage.

“We understand how strong this competition is and hence we need to fight in every match, play good football which is the most important aspect for us,” the Russian said.

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NorthEast United FC, which has won all its six outings since beginning the season with the Durand Cup campaign, is high on confidence.

Head coach Juan Pedro Benali said the team will need to put the Durand Cup glory behind them and look for a consistent performance.

“The feeling of winning the Durand Cup was great, but it finishes 24 hours later. The only thing we have now is to focus on the next game and keep working hard. There are a lot of small battles. You need to win the most of those battles,” Benali said ahead of his team’s first outing in the new ISL season.