Newly appointed Kannur Warriors manager Andrey Chernyshov has set his sights on a second consecutive Super League Kerala (SLK) title, but the 58-year-old Russian coach acknowledges that defending champions face a far steeper climb in the 2025-26 season, with rival clubs having significantly strengthened their squads and coaching setups ahead of the tournament's September 25 kick-off.

One Goal, One Target

Chernyshov, who arrives at Kannur having previously managed Calicut Thrissur Magic — the very side Kannur defeated in last season's final — wasted no time in stating his ambition. 'When you come to a team that is the champion, it can be only one goal and one target: win this title again,' he said in an exclusive interaction ahead of the six-team SLK beginning on September 25.

The appointment is notable given that Chernyshov guided Thrissur Magic to the SLK 2025 final after the side had finished last in the inaugural 2024 season — a turnaround that evidently caught Kannur's attention.

The Defending Champions' Dilemma

Chernyshov drew a sharp parallel between Kannur's current position and the one Calicut FC faced last season as defending champions. 'Last season, Calicut was the defending champion and then all five other teams wanted to beat Calicut. They brought in double power, double energy and now we are in this situation; we are the defending champions, now we need to understand another five teams will fight against us,' he said.

Notably, Kannur themselves qualified for the SLK 2025 playoffs only after finishing fourth in the league stage before going on to win the title — a run that underlines how competitive the format can be from the outset.

A Stronger Field in 2025-26

The coach pointed to a markedly improved coaching pool across the competition. Among those he flagged: former Jordan national team coach Vital Borkelmans, former Mohun Bagan head coach Karim Bencherifa, and SLK Season 1 winner Ian Gillan. 'Teams will be better than last season. All teams have brought experienced coaches; they worked at a high level,' Chernyshov noted, adding that the player quality across clubs has also visibly risen.

This comes amid a broader professionalisation of Indian regional football leagues, where club owners are increasingly investing in foreign technical staff and scouting networks.

Chernyshov's Track Record

The Russian tactician brings a 24-year coaching career to the role, with a substantial chapter written in Kolkata. At Mohammedan SC, he delivered the club's first Calcutta Football League title in 40 years, steered them to the 2021 Durand Cup final and the 2021-22 I-League final, and ultimately clinched their maiden I-League championship in 2023-24. His record in Indian football gives him credibility that few SLK coaches can match this season.

Squad Assessment and Opener

Chernyshov expressed satisfaction with how the club has constructed its roster, retaining the core of last season's title-winning side while adding reinforcements. 'They tried to keep many players from last season; it was important because they were the champions. Then we looked at new players, and I'm satisfied with how we worked to find good players, and now we have 25 players in the squad, and I'm really very happy about them,' he said.

Kannur Warriors will open their title defence against Thrissur — a rematch of last season's finalists — at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Kannur, on 25 September 2026. How they handle the weight of expectation in that first fixture may well set the tone for the entire campaign.