Kolkata: The dust has not yet settled. The cut is deep and the wounds are still very fresh.
The latest chapter of Bengaluru FC’s ISL Shield and Cup run have been written for the season.
Despite a third-place finish and a runners-up medal, there seems to be a void.
In the wake of the final, the questions slowly take birth. Was this an appropriate finish for BFC? Did they deserve more? Well, does it matter?
What came from April 11, 2024, when at home to this year’s final was a proactive period of progressive football.
After finishing tenth in a league of 12 last time, the Blues under Gerard Zaragoza started carving a niche for themselves.
Under the Spaniard, BFC punched, kicked and killed self-doubt. Only a few clubs have enjoyed sustained success against Mohun Bagan. Fewer have built the kind that would say — they were better than the side who won the ISL double .
“I feel for the fourth time this season, we were better than Mohun Bagan,” Zaragoza said at the post-match press conference.
Well, it would have been the romantic’s go-to for Bengaluru to have beaten Bagan in front of an intimidating Salt Lake crowd and fly back with the trophy.
However, despite a rough season finish, they have had their moments this season.
Vinith Venkatesh, who was conceived, born and bred not too far away from Kanteerava stadium, scored a winner on debut against East Bengal.
Namgyal Bhutia, who was once almost shown the door, has flipped the script by flying through the right, tracking back, providing assists and consistently getting the job done.
Suresh Wangjam, at Bengaluru FC’s heart, had built an unapproachable fortress that did not understand the word breach.
Sunil Chhetri, Ryan Williams, Edgar Mendez and Pereyra Diaz, who were all built in different parts of the world with the same principle of you-give-and-we-give-back, were truly unleashed in grand fashion all season. The result? 33 goals in 28 matches.
And more importantly, the Blues finished third, thrashed Mumbai City FC in the one-legged knockout and broke all stereotypes against FC Goa.
Minute after minute, pass after pass, interception after interception, goal after goal, and save after save, BFC held their own in a season of ups and downs.
In motion, Zaragoza has already licked a stamp, slapped it on an envelope and sent copies of a redemption letter all over India that read: we will be back.
Gerard Zaragoza
“This defeat will make us stronger. If this season was tough to play against Bengaluru FC, next season it will be tougher. Next season, be ready for BFC,” he added.
Bengaluru are indeed coming in hot. They are coming hell-bent with a vision and with every lesson they were taught over the last year. And like they progressed this season, there is a sense of belief that it will only get better.
“Last season, we lost 0-4 against Mohun Bagan. One year later, we are in the final. That’s Bengaluru FC. We know how to learn and bounce back and have reached four finals in ten years. We will again be in the final,” he ended.