With no points from the first seven matches and the threat of relegation increasing with every passing week, Sudeva Delhi FC desperately required a quick turnaround to salvage their I-League season. In mid-December, Japanese head coach Atsushi Nakamura was sacked and in came Sankarlal Chakraborty, as the club placed its faith in a renowned Indian name. The former Mohun Bagan head coach had an instant impact as Sudeva Delhi opened their account for the season with a 1-1 draw against Mohammedan Sporting in their last match before the winter break. Although conceding an injury-time equaliser denied the capital side all three points, Chakraborty was reasonably pleased with his team’s performance, where they netted just their fourth goal of the campaign.
