Defending Super Cup champions Bengaluru FC clash against I-League side Chennai City FC

Defending champions Bengaluru FC will have their task cut out when they take on neighbours Chennai City FC in a much-anticipated quarterfinal clash of the Hero Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium, in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. With either side basking in triumphs of the competitions they take part in, the game will pit the champions of I-League and the Indian Super League against each other for the first time ever in a competitive clash.

“We’re all eager to play football. We, as coaches and players, would always want to play matches. It would be special to win two trophies in a season and we want to be competitive and try to do our best to reach the final and hopefully it can happen. It's a tough competition because to win it, you have to win all the games. One bad day, and you are out of the competition. It's like having to play three finals, but we are ready for the fight,” expressed Cuadrat.

The Spaniard will be the Blues biggest threat, and was I-League’s top-scorer with 21 goals from 18 games, at more than one goal per game. In fact, his hat-trick against Pune in the Round of 16 clash was his fifth of the season, having bagged four trebles in the I-League. “I’m quite aware of the qualities the foreigners bring to the Chennai side, especially Manzi. He is quite similar to Miku and both of them bring a lot more than just goals to their sides. Their movement in and around the box also helps teammates in creating more scoring opportunities. It will be an interesting battle for both sides, in offense and defence as well.”

While the Blues might not have played a game in Bhubaneswar this season, they do carry forward an impressive record. Bengaluru hasn’t lost a game in the city and in fact, have a perfect record at the Kalinga Stadium, winning five out of five games at the venue, the most by any team. Chennai City meanwhile hasn’t lost to many teams as well, and if the Blues manage to get a win, they will become only the third side to do that this season. “We know that Chennai have lost three times, and they have only lost against two teams in the I-League. Real Kashmir and Churchill Brothers are the only teams to have managed to beat them. It's a very good statistic for them, and shows how tough a side they are. We will have to try and be the third team to beat them,” added Cuadrat.