Harmanjot Khabra is set to don Bengaluru FC colours for Hero Indian Super League 2017-18. A versatile individual adept at playing across the back-four as well as midfield, Khabra is certain to be in contention for a starting spot for the Blues in their season opener against Mumbai City FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Khabra, who won the Hero ISL with Chennaiyin FC in 2015, spoke to indiansuperleague.com in an exclusive interview and shared his thoughts on the upcoming season. Here are the excerpts. 

How will your experience with Chennaiyin FC help you in the upcoming season with Bengaluru?

I’ve played the last three years in the Hero ISL, this is the fourth season which I’ll be playing with Bengaluru. What and how I’ve played in the past is in the past. It’s just a motivating factor which makes you think positive and also helps the team being positive. I think I can do well on the field believing I’ve done it in the past in the Hero ISL. And that’s what keeps me going, in the attack and the defense as well. Also, if you make a mistake in the Hero ISL, with the quality of football that exists here, it actually makes a difference. They can punish you and even the youngsters here, they are in the learning process, they are getting exposed to such a huge event in these four months.

What are your thoughts on the squad for the upcoming season?

In Bengaluru, there’s a good mixture of youngsters and experienced players and especially good foreign players who’ve played for big leagues and have a good amount of experience. We are lucky to have had a good pre-season during the last three months. It was also good to play the AFC Cup. Most important is how we gel along on and off the field and how we combine ourselves on the field. I think it makes a big difference.

What are your expectations from Hero ISL 2017-18?

Firstly, we need to face all the challenges on the way to the final and we haven’t just started training but we’ve been working hard for the last four months, compared to other clubs who’ve played only a few matches and trained only for a month or two. Unlike other teams who’ve played only friendly matches, we have played some competitive matches in the AFC Cup. So, we know the strength and weaknesses of our team very well and that makes a difference in our play. Bengaluru knows how to be champions. We plan according to the clubs and not players, and it’s not like we stick to one plan for all the games. We have players who can play 3-4 positions, so we can afford to change formations, tactics. Anybody can score from our team and that makes our team dangerous.

Any particular club that you’re looking forward to play against?

With all due respect, I want to face Kerala Blasters FC at their home ground and I think that will be the best thing for the Bengaluru fans to beat Kerala on their home ground. Even other clubs are looking forward to playing them at Kochi as they have a good crowd that comes in every match.

Any thoughts on your next fixture, against Mumbai?

Yes, I have played with them [Mumbai players], [now] it’s time to play against them. But we’ve got our plans in place, tactics and in football we know about players. However, whoever executes the plans on the field makes the difference for the team on the day. Coach has made the plans and tactics, but it comes down to the game at the end. If it’s your day, you’ll make a difference.