Reigning Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) champions Bengaluru FC will go into the 2019-20 season aiming to become the first side in the history of the Hero ISL to successfully defend the title. The ambition to achieve the unprecedented feat will, however, have its own set of challenges.

With the Hero ISL 2019-20 fast approaching, here's a brief overview of the Bengaluru squad.

TRANSFERS: INS AND OUTS

Two big names - Miku and Xisco Hernandez - have departed the Bengaluru camp, prompting the Blues to act fast and bring in Spanish striker Manuel Onwu and former Chennaiyin FC midfield maestro Raphael Augusto to replace them. Ashique Kuruniyan's arrival also bears testimony to Bengaluru's culture of bringing in highly coveted Indian talent to integrate into the Bengaluru team.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh's return to the club will also serve to excite the fans, who will be eager to see their returning hero succeed.

Apart from these, young goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam have also been roped in to bolster the squad. Albert Serran, Dimas Delgado and Erik Paartalu have also signed contract extensions, enabling the Blues to retain a significant chunk of their title-winning squad from last season.

AT THE HELM

Despite a rocky start during pre-season last term, Carles Cuadrat, who took over the reins from Albert Roca ahead of the 2018-19 season, proved his mettle and guided Bengaluru to the title in his very first campaign in charge of a first team. The Spaniard showcased an uncanny ability to switch seamlessly between playing Bengaluru's trademark brand of attacking football and going into a more pragmatic shell whenever required. The balance between the two styles that Cuadrat has managed to conjure up has undoubtedly enhanced Bengaluru into a highly effective outfit capable of churning out results with staggering efficiency, irrespective of the opposition or situation.

STRENGTHS

Last season showcased just exactly how strong this Bengaluru outfit is, as they dominated the competition from almost start to finish to take the title home. The defence, in particular, was impressive and held strong consistently through the testing campaign. With the entire defensive roster having been retained, expect the Blues to be a tough team to break down once again this season. India international and Hero ISL 2018-19 Golden Glove winner Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will be manning the goal, protected by Juanan, Serran, Rahul Bheke and Nishu Kumar. Having the likes of Rino Anto, Harmanjot Singh Khabra to call upon also adds a lot of depth to their defence as well. In essence, Bengaluru possess a formidable backline capable of shutting out the most dangerous of opposition attacks.

In Delgado, Paartalu and Augusto, Bengaluru have three very potent central midfielders, adept at controlling matches with their clever movement and passing, while also putting themselves about at the middle of the park to screen the defence. The trio also possesses considerable goal threat with their creativity in the final third and late forays into the box. The Blues are well-stacked in wide areas as well, with Udanta Singh and Ashique's pace and direct style complementing Sunil Chhetri up front. Sidebacks like Bheke, Nishu can also spell danger for the opposition with their overlapping runs.

AREAS OF CONCERN

Miku's absence will definitely be the biggest concern for Bengaluru heading into the 2019-20 campaign. The Venezuelan, along with strike partner Chhetri, has been the centrepiece to Bengaluru's various successes over the last two seasons. Despite Bengaluru managing to scrape out results last season for a considerable period when the striker was injured, even the Venezuelan's strongest critic won't disagree that Bengaluru look much better with Miku on the pitch. Furthermore, Miku's style of play also tends to bring the best out of Chhetri as well.

Manuel Onwu has considerable experience and goal scoring pedigree in the lower divisions in Spain and the forward will be expected to fill Miku's shoes for the coming season. While Bengaluru fans and head coach Cuadrat will be keeping their fingers crossed that the Spanish striker manages to live up to the expectations, but at the end of the day, Onwu is still an unknown variable in the Hero ISL and only time will tell whether he can fill the substantial Miku-shaped void in Bengaluru.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Gill, Aditya Patra

DEFENDERS: Rahul Shankar Bheke, Albert Serran, Sairuatkima, Juan Antonio Gonzalez Fernandez, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Rino Anto, Nishu Kumar, Parag Satish Srivas, Gursimrat Singh Gill

MIDFIELDERS: Erik Endel Paartalu, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Kean Francis Lewis, Raphael Augusto, Dimas Delgado Morgado, Udanta Singh Kumam, Ajay Chhetri, Suresh Wangjam

FORWARDS: Manuel Onwu, Sunil Chhetri, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Ashique Kuruniyan, Edmund Lalrindika

How, do you think, Bengaluru FC will fare in their title defence? Leave your predictions in the comments below:

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Bengaluru FC Miku2019-2020Sunil Chhetri