Elano’s role is not that of a finisher but he had to the maximum leg work and then had to try to convert those chances into goals.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness that came out during the last season was that Chennai were not able to convert the opportunities created by the midfield into goals. Their star-studded defensive line has players who have been playing in Europe’s top league and they give Chennaiyin FC’s midfield the confidence to play freely and create more chances for the strikers. Last season the only time Chennai were seen struggling was during the period when Elano was injured and by retaining him they have made it clear that the Brazilian is going to be their main player this year also.Ĭhennai’s defence was rock solid in the first season and by retaining Bernard Mendy and signing defenders like Raphael Augusto, Alessandro Potenza and Mailson Alves they have made a statement that they are going to capitalise on their strength. Their marquee player Elano is the most complete midfielder in the league and their manager, Marco Materazzi, is a brilliant tactician and analyses the opponents very well.ĭespite having many world-class players in the team, Elano is still their main strength and last year the playmaker almost single-handedly took Chennai to the last four. They had one of the best midfield during the first season and this year they have retained the core of their team while trying to further improve their already strong defence. Strengths: Chennai’s strength last year was their free-flowing game that involved short and quick passes and having maximum possession of the ball. Here is a look at the club’s squad before the start of ISL season 2: