Seven losses, three draws and just two 1-0 wins have left the club suffering in 13th place, better only than relegation-threatened Mohammedan SC. And its final fixture against title-hunting Bengaluru FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday offers little encouragement.
Both clubs started with Indian managers, and Chennaiyin’s Clifford Miranda has survived the length of the season, while his counterpart, Renedy Singh, was replaced by Spaniard Pep Munoz.
Despite keeping his job, Miranda accepted blame for the worrying reality. “To say the least, it is disappointing. (Chennaiyin) always been among the top. Over the years, it has been down. This year has been the worst,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
Disappointing is perhaps the best description Miranda could have given. Despite a fairly decent haul of ISL-hardened as well as fresher faces during the transfer window, Chennaiyin’s performances have fallen well below its standards.
“For me, I am the first one to take responsibility. The club was very clear with me as to what was available and what could be made available,” he said.
Signings like Mohammed Ali Bemammer and Alberto Noguera provided optimism, but the lack of a proper pre-season has left the veterans in the squad with no gas in the tank.
“When we have really experienced players, we have to build them up through pre-season to get them to a good physical condition. With experience, we can have a few good phases, but then it drops,” Miranda explained.
The effects of these drops have affected the club most in attack. Alongside Mohammedan, Chennaiyin is the only side yet to hit double figures in goals scored this season.
“Our conversion rate is just 15 per cent despite having plenty of chances. Teams above us have created less but scored more. When we miss a chance and then the opposition scores, and when it becomes a pattern, the team starts losing confidence.”
Meanwhile, Munoz has not had the most convincing start to his life in Bengaluru either. Two draws, one win and one loss under him have left the Blues in fourth on the table, two points off the top spot.
Requiring a win to stay alive in the title race, Munoz, however, will fancy his chances after last week Bengaluru became the first team to beat Jamshedpur FC at its home this campaign.
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“The last game was really good. We managed the tempos, and we were playing in a structure that gave us confidence. But we need more training, we need more games, and hopefully, in the next season, we can do it (find rhythm) as soon as possible,” Munoz said.
However, he remained reserved about his side’s title chances, saying, “First of all, we need to be as equal as we can with the opponents that will fight for the trophy next season. We could try to sign the foreigners that we need to compete with them. And then we can try to make the difference with the quality of the local players that we have.”
But, an attack comprising Brian Sánchez, Ryan Williams, and Ashique Kuruniyan, with the opportunity to introduce Sunil Chhetri, could be enough to trouble an already ailing Chennaiyin.
Miranda confirmed that Noguera, Bemammer and Laldinliana Renthlei are among the major absentees for the early kick-off, but assured that his side would “fight with whatever we have,” for one final time this season.
Published on May 15, 2026