Here We Go Again! Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC ISL 24/25 Opener Match Preview

byRitam Chakraborty -

Here We Go Again! Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC ISL 24/25 Opener Match Preview


The occasion was tense when we faced our arch-rivals last time two times. The day was 15th of April this year. The stakes were understandably high, and why wouldn’t it be? It was the season decider which was contested in front of 65 thousand fans at the VYBK. 
 
We prevailed that game due to goals from Liston and Cummings and secured the ISL League Shield, and thus a continental spot in the second tier of the Asian Champions League. The two met again a week later, now at the ISL Playoff Final, which now only provides the symbolic ISL Trophy without any continental reward. Bipin Singh did Bipin Singh things that fateful night, again at the VYBK. Life.
 
Now, we are back at the same venue and the same opponent after a very chaotic summer transfer window and a tournament final loss. But the players who didn't fell prey to Scooters and thus didn't get themselves banned will don the shirt with equal pride and higher expectations. 

Obviously there were questions in people’s minds about this high profile game being held so early into the season, but Mohunbagan has to have all the recipes in her hands to cook a delicious meal, and start strongly which is very much needed for Jose Molina and his coaching staff to silence some recent concerns and constructive criticism. 


 
Since our Reserves team keeps failing with Deggie Cardozo very much in danger of losing his job, fans can only hope from the former Real Federación Española de Fútbol director to not give more managerial headaches to the board members. 

And our arch rivals? They had been waiting for the game from the very moment it was announced, maybe even from before. Otherwise no team will sacrifice a very winnable Cup trophy and bear the trolls after a multiple-goal loss to Kerala Blasters FC. And by multiple goals, we are not talking about 2-3 here but 8(!) 
 
But in all honesty, it was a calculated risk, they know they need to qualify for Asian football this time and will have to win the Shield or the Silencer, sorry, the Super Cup. 
 
But for an analyst, it was a headache. Their academy players played (didn’t play well enough) but they could not keep a consistent shape and a fluid attacking pattern which I could detect. Still I tried my best to squeeze water from stone and deduce a brief idea of how they might play after reviewing their Kerala game, but first we have to focus on the players to keep an eye on.

MCFC Players to Watch Out For


Jon Toral

People by now must have been aware of my liking for Spanish young talents whom I watched from their academy days. Well I don’t claim to have watched this guy play in his young days but looking at his CV, it is clear that he was a wonderkid of the highest level otherwise Barcelona academy would not have bought him from Arsenal for 500k euros. 

A further deep dive made me aware that he was the highest rated wonderkid in Football Manager 2012, and they rarely get it wrong (they got it wrong that time due to his frequent injuries). His best attribute is the way he progresses the ball, and I think he challenges even Stewart for this ability. 

He is a very valuable box-crasher too, and can get a few goals by making a surprise run into the box. He also will be the set piece taker except short freekicks which should be reserved for the frenchman Manzorro.


Nik Karelis

This Greek stalwart, known for his eye for goal has played with many Superstars of European football, starting with Koulibaly, Milinkovic-Savic, Trossard, Toney, Malinovskyi, Eriksen, Berge and Benrahma (and a lot more) and is by far the most established name in this league having plied his trade with Genk, Panathinaikos, Brentford and the Greek national team. 

He was originally hailed as a second striker and even though he is more of a traditional striker now, Kratky will be relishing a link-up play master like him. He is also an established penalty taker, but what makes him different from other forwards is his intelligence in front of the goal. He knows when and where to shoot as opposed to directly blasting it goalwards, which makes his team very clinical from even half-chances. 

The Great MCFC Tactical Analysis

Courtesy: Sony Liv

This still image is the shape Mumbai are likely to form in defence with the opponent circulating the ball in the final third. And even though it was the academy team, it impressive how they kept their shape like Kratky ordered, and honestly, looking at this mid-block, I am more convinced that Kratky is a great coach. 

A controlled three-man defense with players keeping a keen eye on their marker. The best feature of this shape is that there is no scope of a potential switch across to other flank and teams will have to create with the limited space offered. It might soak pressure but the team has excellent box defenders to clear the ball away so it wouldn’t even matter. 


Courtesy: Sony Liv

Moreover the tireless defensive midfielders are apt to sweep away any loose balls. And this is where Petratos and Liston will have to combine to provide service to the striker. With Mumbai having no final third involvement in attack at all with only one penalty box entry, I am having to rely on their build up shape, and honestly there is nothing significant here at all, except the fact that even though they do not start with a 3 at the back formation, they change to that not only in defense but even while in attack. 

The DMF finds himself in pockets of space and helps in circulation which should be kept in mind. They boast of high profile carriers and progressive passers so leave space at your own peril! How to break them down? The answer is relentless pressure, and smart exchanges between the midfield.  

Courtesy: Sony Liv

The Mumbai City FC Mid-Block can be negotiated if more than two players take an active part in build up. I would like Thapa, Petratos and Apuia/Stewart to be those players. There should also be one creative outlet from the wings and I would expect Manvir to sacrifice his game a bit and move central and provide support, maybe even assume the rolle of a Mezzala. 

What is it? It refers to the two widest players of a midfield three who combine the role of a central midfielder and a winger. The term “mezzala” comes from “mezzo ala” in Italian which means half winger. The advantage of assuming the role for Manvir is that he will help us overload the right central midfield area, which is needed when we are trying to get past their mid-block. And yes, Cummings might have to link up the play too in certain occasions. 

The Situation for Mohun Bagan

As I might have provided a brief idea about the way the team should play in my previous tactical analysis on Mohun  Bagan, I would not go much into it. However I would personally like to state that for continued and sustainable results, the foreign centre-back pairing should play, and yes, from the start itself.

Subhashis should complete our backline but his form is not as encouraging right now so we need to be careful, and that’s where purchasing another Indian centre back would have helped a lot. Two foreign centrebacks means one foreigner in attack might be sacrificed and I am fine with it. Apuia or Sahal with Thapa should start. The attack line with Cummings and Petratos should stay while Kaith, Liston and Manvir completes our Indian contingent. Would appreciate some Abhishek minutes aswell.

Also speaking about a certain Indian CB, I would not delve deeper into the issue further here too out of dignity but it was encouraging to get that certain decision in our favour and it should be our utmost focus to spend the compensation wisely, preferably in getting a foreign defensive midfielder or an Indian centre back. However that’s for the future, and we need to capture the present to get there. And that quest to glory starts from here.

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