Bengaluru FC’s Spaniard head coach Carles Cuadrat parts ways with the team by mutual consent after a straight third defeat to Mumbai City FC with a scoreline of 1-3.
Assistant coach Naushad Moosa, who has been with the team for the last four seasons will take charge as the pro tem head coach with an immediate effect against East Bengal FC on Saturday at the Fatorda Stadium.
“After deep deliberation with the management, we feel the club needs to head in a new direction – one where the ethos and philosophy of Bengaluru FC begin reflecting again. While we enjoyed success with Carles in the past, we felt there was a departure from the philosophy that we hold true this season, which prompted us to arrive at this decision,” said Parth Jindal, Director, Bengaluru FC.
He further added, “I want to express gratitude for everything that Carles has done for this wonderful football club. In the five years, he has spent with us, he has been through all the ups and downs we’ve experienced at Bengaluru. He was around when we lost the AFC Cup final and then the ISL final, before leading us to the ISL title on that night in Mumbai.”
“We are confident he will get the team to play the kind of football that we have based our success on. Meanwhile, our search for a replacement has already begun and we will be bringing in someone who we believe can further the philosophy and style of this club.
“Our ambition of challenging for titles while developing young talent that goes on to represent the country remains unchanged. We are currently in a good position this season and we back the staff and players to build on it in the coming weeks,” Parth added.
Cuadrat said, “I greatly appreciate the club for giving me the opportunity to be Head Coach. It has been a relationship where I have been treated really well and a club that I will always have fond memories of. I would like to thank the owners and management whose vision has been excellent, players who have always been at my service, the staff that I have worked with and that have stood by my side across five seasons and the fans, who have been tremendous in their support, and without whom we could never have carved out so many beautiful nights at the Kanteerava and away.
“I wish the club all the luck through the season and beyond. This club and the people associated with it will forever be in my heart.”
Experts said Cuadrat’s departure was on the cards ever since the foreign signings began to flop. “Deshorn Brown’s struggle continues from last season. The new signing Norwegian Kristian Opseth is also yet to score. Cuadrat was expected to leave at the end of this season but it seems the lack of goals and back-to-back defeats triggered his exit.”
Under the coaching of Carles Cuadrat, who was into his fifth season, helped Bengaluru FC to top the league table and to lift the ISL trophy during the 2018-19 season. The Blues, under him also holds the League record of most consecutive wins by six games, an unbeaten streak of eleven games, and clean sheets of eleven games.
