FOREIGN ASSETS: Chennaiyin FC worked hard to make up for the absence of Elano and Mendoza

THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Chennaiyin FC had a gem of a campaign last year. 

During the tournament, they came under pressure a few times, with matches going down to the wire. But the lethal combination of Elano Blumer and Stiven Mendoza always stepped up and rescued them with late goals and what not, securing favourable results out of games that were almost lost. Even the final ended like that; with the season climax provided by a world class strike from Mendoza.

But the ugly controversy that unfolded right after the match caused Elano to turn away from the franchise and ISL itself, and Stiven Mendoza got picked by an MLS club. So the two most effective foreign players that the franchise had are no longer there. And that leaves a bit of a gap that's tough to make up.

But Chennaiyin have tried their level best to re-organize their squad for a title-defence that is going to be tougher than ever. And to do that they have retained the best players that they could and sought to upgrage other positions with players from other ISL teams and in certain cases targeted replacements chartered in. This is more true in the case of foreign players than the Indian players. 

So here's a look at the major overseas players who will be taking the centre-stage in Chennaiyin FC's campaign in ISL 2016.