ISL Top 4 Prediction Survey: Fans pick Mumbai City, ATK Mohun Bagan as favourites

Which Indian Super League (ISL) club will finish top of the table and take home the Shield? Who will surprise all and enter the top 4? Which football teams are going to be the Top 4 contenders?

As season VII of the ISL kicks off today with a clash between Kerala Blasters and ATK Mohun Bagan in Goa, The Bridge tried to search for the answers to those questions through a survey. More than 500 Indian football fans participated in the survey.

So without further ado, let's see what the fans think about the coming season:

# Mumbai City, ATK Mohun Bagan favourites for 1-2

While it was a closely contested affair, Mumbai City FC edged past ATK Mohun Bagan FC to be favourites for the upcoming ISL season. The fans' sentiments are understandable given that the City Football Group (CFG) backed side is coached by former FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera. Moreover, the team assembled is filled with star footballers, right from Adam Le Fondre to Hugo Boumous. 29.1% of the fans surveyed said that Mumbai City would finish on top of the table. Another 36.2% said that the Islanders would come in 2nd.

Pie chart showing how fans voted for Top spot

Not far behind, ATK Mohun Bagan polled in 28.4% of the votes. Indeed the Green and Maroons are one of the most formidable sides in the ISL 2020-21. Under Antonio Lopes Habas, the players won the ISL title last season and additionally, the defense has been strengthened. ATK Mohun Bagan have a set team and yet, no one knows how they are going to put out (the team didn't play a single friendly match before the season, even though more three were scheduled initially). 30.5% said that the team would come in at 2nd spot, if not first.

An optimistic 15.1% voters said that Chennaiyin FC would finish top of the table.

# FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters to fight it out for No. 3-4

Last year's shield winners FC Goa may have a new look squad but they still have people backing them to finish third, ahead of Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters.

19.1% of the voters polled for the Gaurs to finish behind Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan. While Goa did lose their main players from last season, they have done a good job with rebuilding with the additions of Igor Angulo, James Donachie, Jorge Ortiz and others. Juan Ferrando, in his interactions with the media, has shown confidence in his words which could be one of the reasons behind the faith shown on FC Goa.

https://youtu.be/yPCDk0wokIY

Bengaluru FC, like ATK Mohun Bagan, have a steady team with their core remaining the same more or less. They have further bolstered their attacking options in a bid to rectify last season's mistakes. Moreover, the mere presence of Sunil Chhetri in the squad is enough to inspire belief. 16.9% of the voters felt that Bengaluru FC will end up at 3rd, while 19% thought they would finish 4th.

For Kerala Blasters, Under new coach Kibu Vicuna though, the promises are high. Despite several departures, the belief is there that he is capable enough to guide the Blasters to their first ever ISL title. And to aid his cause, the likes of Gary Hooper, Jordan Murray, Costa Nhamoinesu, Bakary Kone and Facundo Pereyra have come on board! Along with that the addition of Nishu Kumar and contract extensions of Sahal Abdul Samad and Rahul KP indicate how the club is giving importance to its Indian core. The fans undoubtedly believe that Vicuna means business. As many as 14.8% said they would finish third, another 15.5% picked them for fourth.

SC East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC, meanwhile, turned out to be the dark horses to enter the Top 4 of the ISL table.