Lobera Ball in Motion : 5 Things We Learnt from MBSG vs KBFC

bySagnik Chakraborty -

Mohun Bagan, aiming for the most anticipated three-peat, board the sail perfectly. Under the guidance of Sergio Lobera, the Mariners look like the least chaotic squad in what could be called the most chaotic season in the history of Indian Club Football. It was a decent game to begin with.


FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM MBSG VS KBFC:-

1. The World of Apu(ia) 

Oh dear! How would I describe this man? Lalengmawia Ralte aka Apuia is going to be the X-factor again in this short season of Indian Super League for Mohun Bagan. Starting in a typical 4-4-2, that occasionally shifted into a 4-2-3-1, Apuia was the engine of the team. He mopped up every second ball, pressed with intensity and drew more fouls than anyone else in the pitch. He was phenomenal in breaking up KBFC's counters and distributing the ball effectively to his teammates.

Apuia in action. Image: MBSG

His composure under pressure allowed the team to maintain the structural balance while enabling Anirudh Thapa, Petratos, Robson or Liston to push higher. What made him so delightful to watch is his ability to effortlessly snatch possession and wriggle out even when surrounded by two or more opposition players.

Like Aditya Tyagi once said, "Such a mature head on such young shoulders", Apuia has formed a world– a world of his own– full of control, press resistance, transitional awareness, and structural intelligence.

2. ATS – Agile, Tireless, Strong:

During a period in the second half, it looked like Robson and Tekcham Abhishek Singh had been playing together for years. Abhishek combined beautifully with his counterparts, whether Alberto and Mehtab in defence, or Robson, Dimitri and Liston in the offense. This young lad has proven to be a crucial signing this season, ticking off lots of boxes with unique playstyle. He seemed equally adept on both flanks. With Amey Ranawade coming on as a half time substitution, Abhishek after a remarkable first half as right back, shifted to the left and he looked completely at home there.

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Besides being superb in defensive duties, his tireless feet often carried him to the opposition box. However, he still need to work more on his crossing ability. In a system where you have Robson Robinho up ahead who frequently cuts inside, the liability falls on the side back pushing up to contribute more to the attack. That is an area where he should work more on.

Overall, Abhishek, in his ISL debut in the green and maroon jersey, won over the fans with his agile, tireless, and strong performance and hence won the MBFT's voted Player of the Match award as well.

3. Beginning of the LobERA –  Hunt, Fight, Conquer

"I want the ball for 90 minutes. When I don't have the ball, I go high pressing because I want the ball."– Pep Guardiola

Everything gets a shape through a process and in Mohun Bagan, a version of pressing, more of a mid-press began during Ferrando era. As time passed from Ferrando to Habas to Molina and now, finally into the very first match of Lobera, the pressing structure seems to have evolved into something that echoes Guardiola's philosophy.

As a fan, I wished to see Mr. Sergio Lobera in the hot seat of Mohun Bagan’s Head Coach back in 2021. Years down the line, the wish has finally come true and he begins his journey at our Mother Club with plenty of positives to build upon. He set the team with an attacking stance. The shape stretched, with the side backs advancing very often to provide width and exert pressure in the final third. Robson and Liston tucked in towards midfield to overload central zone and facilitate quicker link-up play.

Bringing on Amey at half time in the place of captain Subhashish Bose, who was having an ordinary day, was a bold call, given the performance he has maintained over the last two seasons. The switch in Abhishek's position along with positioning Liston on his unusual right wing, were tactical adjustments that certainly caught the eye.Even before both sides could find their rhythm or shape, Mariners initiated a high press, applying pressure right from the start and into the deep.


Previously, we saw a few of the players pressing this high or doing so occasionally. But under Lobera, each and every player was engaged in the press to win the ball back. Dictating opponents' movements despite their possession is the essence of this pressing. Without a doubt, this is going to be the template for this 13 match league where the margin of error is minimal. If executed consistently, this pressing structure could directly lead to three or more goals being scored from the opposition's inability to handle the pressure.

4. Robson - The Brazilian Delight

There can be a debate about whether Robson is the perfect replacement for Stewart or not; whether he is truly needed in this set up or not. Yet, his class remains unquestionable, along with the rare X-factor he possesses that makes him capable of steering the team in the right direction. Despite many attempts at goal, it wasn't his night to get his name on the scoresheet. On his ISL debut, he took it upon himself to accelerate the attacking threat from the very outset.

Robson Robinho attempting a shot. Image: Soccermonk.

Besides Sahal, Robson is the most creative player in the team with a keen eye for goals. His movement and link-up plays offered a glimpse of what the Mariners had long anticipated. The more the team involves him in build up, the more Maclaren will receive the service he constantly thrives on.

5. Yellow Army's Comeback Attempt –  Gaps in Mariner Defense

During defensive phases, the centre backs dropped back into man-marking strategy to neutralize immediate threats, while the remaining players– Apuia and Thapa being key examples, focused on applying high pressure and making interceptions.

However, since Kevin Yoke was subbed into the game, his physical presence and darting runs down the left wing proved difficult to handle. He cruised past Amey and was able to float crosses a couple of times, which unfortunately couldn't find a familiar face in the box. Tom was quickly subbed in to give aerial support to Alberto and thus, ensuring the ball didn't end up in dangerous waters. Apuia doubled the manpower with Amey to prevent Kevin from cooking the same recipe repeatedly that smelled like disaster. Sergio's decisions worked in his favour and Tom scored a goal in the dying minutes to seal the 3 points for the Mariners, but the evident problem still remains. In the pre-match press conference, Lobera had commented that he would rather have a 6-2 scoreline over 1-0 any day. And the way the team played under him this match, there was no doubt that he actually meant it! Despite creating a decent number of chances but Bagan failed to convert most of them. We must be scoring goals in proportion to the amount of attacking threats we are making in order to make Sergio's offensive plan work. Besides, the fans do enjoy a thrilling scoreline but not at the cost of leaving the defense vulnerable in the hunger to score goals.

A bonus talking point would be about Thapa, who, perhaps for the first time in Green and Maroon, showed glimpses of his CFC days. Petratos too, looked sharper and fitter compared to last season. That said, was he trying to do a bit too much on his own? At times, it certainly felt so and seemed frustrating as well. When it comes to their heartthrob, the fans will demand more.

The start was decent, though a few flaws were evident. However, they remained limited and given the quality and balance the team possesses, these rough edges should naturally smoothen with time. 1 down, 3 points for us. 12 more games to go!


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