5 Key Takeaways from Mohun Bagan's Draw against Inter Kashi | ISL 2025/26

bySagnik Chakraborty -
Credit-@mohunbagansg

Mohun Bagan are complicating their chances of winning the league in the most unlikely manner. With two matches remaining, including the derby next, they must win both games. Even a draw in the derby could make the title dreams slip away!

We mourn the demise of Shri. Tutu Bose, one of the most influential figures in Mohun Bagan's modern day history. His contribution to the club transcended administration; he remained an inseparable part of the institution and its identity for generations of supporters.




5 Key Takeaways from Mohun Bagan vs IKFC


1. Vacant Middle Third:

Mohun Bagan's biggest structural issue against Inter Kashi was the complete absence of with-the-ball movements and possessional play through the middle. With McLaren rested in the first half, Robson, Sahal and Manvir, played in the midfield, while Petratos seemed to have a free role, operated on the same horizontal line too often, without anyone consistently attacking the central channel or pinning the centre backs. As a result, the team lacked depth in possession and became extremely predictable in the final third.



Deepak Tangri dropped between Tom Aldred and Mehtab Singh, effectively creating a back three, while Ranawade and Abhishek pushed high almost as wing backs during attacking transitions. This naturally opened half spaces centrally, for Robson, Sahal or Dimi, as we witnessed in the first few games, but Mohun Bagan failed to exploit them. Sahal, instead of receiving between the lines closer to the box, was forced to drop deep and cover excessive ground because there was no fixed runner occupying the central corridor, making the absence of Apuia very badly visible. Sahal's influence therefore became disconnected from penetrative zones.

Robson's movements also reflected the imbalance. Whenever Abhishek overlapped on the left, Robson drifted inside, but those inward movements rarely translated into penetrative runs beyond the defensive line. Dimitri Petratos, despite a few quality passes and attempts, operated in an undefined free role and could not provide structural stability in midfield progression. There was no coordinated third man movement, no late central burst, and no consistent runner attacking the space behind Inter Kashi's midfield block. Jamie Maclaren received only one proper delivery through the middle, which forced an excellent save from the goalkeeper.

Petratos' Pass Map. (Via: Sofascore)

Consequently, Mohun Bagan circulated possession almost exclusively through the flanks. Once Inter Kashi started nullifying and anticipating the attacks from wings, Mohun Bagan's attacking sharpness disappeared completely. The lack of central penetration made every attack readable, sterile, and easy to contain.

Credit-@IndSuperLeague


2. The Dilemma of "Extra Pass":

One of Mohun Bagan's biggest attacking flaws in this match was their obsession with the extra pass. There were phases when the team kept circulating the ball around the final third without any real intent to penetrate. Even sides like FC Barcelona, the pioneers of modern tiki-taka under Pep Guardiola, once suffered from this very issue – possession becoming sterile, repetitive, and ultimately predictable.

Under Sergio Lobera, Mohun Bagan at times looked trapped in that same cycle against Inter Kashi. Instead of taking early shots or making decisive vertical runs, players repeatedly searched for one more touch, one more pass, one more opening. Sahal, for instance, often delayed his shooting opportunities by dragging the ball for an additional touch, which disrupted the rhythm of attacks and reduced the quality of the final attempt. Compared to their previous few matches the number of passes increased as Mohun Bagan completed 610 passes in total, but they ultimately produced very little attacking threat. The focus of passing shifted from potential areas like the opponent's box to the Central Midfield White Line.

Barring a few efforts from Liston, one or two from Petratos and a superb save denying McLaren, most of Mohun Bagan's shots hardly troubled the Inter Kashi goalkeeper. The lack of spontaneity made the attack slow and over-calculated. Football, especially in congested penalty box, does not always demand aesthetic perfection. Sometimes, the quickest decision is the best one!

Had a coach like Jose Mourinho been watching from the opposition bench, he probably would have gladly allowed Mohun Bagan to keep the ball all night and still walked away with the point!

3. A Disjointed Team with Unclear Roles:

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the performance was the visible lack of understanding and coordination between the players. After already enduring a chaotic season in Indian football, Mohun Bagan now looked like a side without rhythm or collective chemistry. Despite being at the business end of the campaign, most of the game felt disoriented, almost as if the players were unfamiliar with each other's movements and game play. The game also witnessed exhibition of unfirced errors that certainly raise a question regarding the peripheral vision of the players.

Robson Robinho, who already looked physically off the pace against FC Goa, once again appeared short of sharpness. Jason Cummings continued his inconsistent run from Goa match, unable to impose himself centrally for sustained periods. Even Manvir Singh, usually one of the most consistent players in the squad, looked uncertain and dejected about his positioning and responsibilities. His familiar off and on the ball movements were completely absent. Even when he needed to track back, he was often seen jogging back without any intent!

Deepak Tangri, on the other hand, completed 117 passes with 96% accuracy, but most of them were lateral or recycled between the centre backs without adding progression or verticality. The absence of Anirudh Thapa from the starting phase was also deeply felt. Without his connective presence in midfield, Sahal repeatedly had to drop deep, leaving advanced central areas vacant and disconnected from the attack.

Deepak Tangri's Pass Map. (Via: Sofascore)

Mohun Bagan looked structurally better in the second half after shufting to a more stable 4-4-2 with the introduction of Subhasish, which allowed Abhishek to shift towards the right. However, the substitutions still raised tactical questions. Replacing both Robson and Cummings together at half time removed two profiles capable of individual unpredictability, while the later introduction of Thapa arguably came too late to properly reshape the game.

Another recurring issue for Mohun Bagan has been their inability to make set pieces threatening. Despite scoring from dead ball situations earlier in the tournament, the overall execution throughout the campaign has lacked variation, and sharpness. Against Inter Kashi, Bagan got 8 corners and almost every corner felt repetitive and comfortably dealt with by the opposition defence. 

Subhasish delivered a few quality balls after coming on, followed by a dangerous corner by Loston, but those moments remained exceptions rather than a pattern. Apart from the late free kick that narrowly went wide, Mohun Bagan barely created any genuine danger from set pieces. Much like teams such as Mumbai City FC have done earlier, Inter Kashi appeared completely comfortable allowing Mohun Bagan to rely on crosses and aerial deliveries, knowing there was little unpredictability or attacking aggression in those situations.

4. Lack of Urgency:

What is Mohun Bagan's aim in this tournament? It is to be the Champions. The focus of this Club has always been on its own performance. We must remember "Mohun Bagan comes onto the field to WIN!". The complete lack of urgency in a match the team simply had to win was the most frustrating thing for a fan. Despite playing more than double the passes, and getting 4 times the corners, with more than twice the ball possession percentage, Mohun Bagan registered a lower xG of 0.71 compared to 0.83 of Inter Kashi.

Credit-@IndSuperLeague




Despite our despicable performance in recent matches, we still have the means to dictate our own fate. This is the final straw to show the Mariners faithful what the Club stands for: Never back down without a fight! The players and coach must work together, and focus towards achieving 6 points from the 2 remaining matches.

5. Defensive Consolidation:

Our defence looked shaky from the start and were lucky to have not conceded an open goal from Inter Kashi in the early First Half. The derby is incoming and we are aware of their attacking potential.

Punjab FC played in a unique configuration in the latter end of 2nd Half and successfully defended against EBFC. They played in a 6-2-2 formation where the wingers stayed back and provided support to the full-backs while the four in the middle formed a square-line positioning and high pressing in their half. What this formation did was shut down the wing play where East Bengal usually prefer doubling up and getting the cross in. With the full-back and winger staying there, that wasn't possible! The strikers were surrounded in a triangle-like formation which gave them no chance to get at the end of the ball. As for the midfielders and strikers, the fantastic four applied high pressure at all times, to prevent shots from far. They played freely in the counter-attack with all four charging down the middle, and posing real threat, knocking on the opponent's door. At times, they preferred to slow down and hold the ball, allowing the wingers to regain their usual position, to add flair to the attack. While this is less aggressive, this worked for Punjab FC and they kept a clean sheet. If Mohun Bagan gets the lead, Coach Lobera can take such strategies into consideration.

Credit-@FanCode


The biggest question after this performance is simple: do Sergio Lobera and his players truly look like a team desperate to win the league?

With the derby approaching and the title race coming to a close, Bagan needed to play with aggression, emotional intensity, and urgency. A draw in the derby could seriously damage their title hopes, yet there was little visible desperation in their football against Inter Kashi. What makes the situation more confusing is that this is almost the same core group that won the Shield last season. The structure, the personnel, and the experience are largely intact. So why does the side suddenly look so hesitant, disconnected, and physically dull at crucial moments of the campaign?

Defensively too, Mohun Bagan were fortunate on multiple occasions. Inter Kashi should arguably have scored early in the game after missing an open net opportunity, while Vishal Kaith once again had to rescue the side in the dying moments with an important save. Those moments exposed how vulnerable the team looked whenever possession was lost or transitions broke down.

Credit-@IndSuperLeague


More than the tactical issues, it was the mentality that raised concerns. The intensity was missing. The pressing lacked conviction. The transitions lacked speed. And for a side chasing the league title, that absence of urgency is perhaps the most alarming takeaway of all.

With the derby just two days away, both Kolkata giants are level on points, while East Bengal FC hold the advantage on goal difference. That makes the derby must-win for the Mariners. Can Mr. Lobera and his boys rise to the occasion? Not only for the late Tutu Bose or for the fans, but at least for their own reputation and the standards this club demands.

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