Woeful and disintegrated. These will be the exact two words one would use to describe the current Mohun Bagan team. A team built with the best possible players in Indian football, a team that was built with every position in mind. A team that is being held back by it's own leader. A team with no spark, no direction. Mohun Bagan is one of the few teams in Indian football who don't lack anything, yet they lack everything!
When Panos was appointed as the coach in the off-season, the fanbase was divided.
Some were happy that a 'youth-first' policy and attacking mindset era will usher in at Bagan. Some were skeptical, especially considering the fact that Panos has never managed a big club where every game matters. With the current situation in sight, it seems the latter group were correct in their assessment.
The team looks disjointed and Panos looks lost. It feels like having all exotic ingredients for the best dish in the world, but you hand it to someone who has never stepped in a kitchen. The team needs a chef, a masterful one at that and with no time to lose!
The Starting XI
For the line up, Vishal Kaith started in goal as usual. Alberto and Bheke started in the heart of the defence with Abhishek Tekcham and Mehtab as the full backs. Tangri and Samir started in the defensive midfield with Chhangte again on the left and Manvir on the right. Drazic played just behind Lee Erwin who started up front as the sole striker.
🟢⚔ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 ⚔🔴
— MBFT (@MBFT89) October 26, 2026
Mariners, here's how we are lining up against Chennaiyin FC, in our 3rd MG Indian Super League 2026-27 Match of the Season!
{ Joy Mohun Bagan, MBFT } pic.twitter.com/cebGSXXn6Z
Chennaiyin Take Control
For the ones who thought Chennaiyin would have come this far to sit back and defend, they were proved wrong withing the opening minutes. Madih Talal and Nikola were the ones pulling the strings for CFC in the middle of the park and they looked dangerous!
CFC had more clear cut chances in the first half, the most dangerous being the one that fell to the feet of Irfan Yadwad. Talal had fed the perfect ball to Yadwad who just couldn't slot it past Kaith. Bagan were pushed and pushed back. Bagan looked lost for ideas. They didn't have the teeth to bite into the CFC defense. Whatever moves Bagan made, they just couldn't capitalise.
Drazic had Bagan's best chance in the first half, but he just couldn't slot it in. All the big chances fell to CFC, but their forwards squandered chance after chance. Bagan looked lost, disjointed and lost for ideas. It's like coming for a Wild West Shootout empty-handed.
Bagan were just waiting to hear the Half Time whistle. The defense struggled to keep up with the creativity of the CFC attack, and if the finishing was anywhere nearly as good as their midfield, Bagan would have lost the game in the first half itself.
🟢⚔ 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ⚔🔴
— MBFT (@MBFT89) October 26, 2026
{ Joy Mohun Bagan, MBFT } pic.twitter.com/pU5Bp1giUW
Kaith Keeps Bagan in the Game
The second half begun with Bagan firmly on the backfoot. Chennaiyin were by far the better team in the whole game. They controlled the possession, created chances and looked exciting. Vishal Kaith had to become the saviour for Bagan again and again. If it had not been for Kaith, Bagan would have definitely gone down by multiple goals. Thwarting clear goal-bound shots, he saved Bagan from the embarrassment of a home loss. The Flying Kaith stood as the final obstacle that refused to go down.
Sahal was introduced early in the second half to spark some creativity into the attack. And it worked, although in bits and pieces. Bagan clearly made more chances than they did in the first half, but still nothing clear cut was there. Long range shots, crosses that met no one, woeful decision-making meant Bagan still struggled to get within the scoring range. The Salt Lake was silent, something you don't see much often, especially during a Mariners' home match.
A Lead Against the Run of Play
The best chance for Chennaiyin fell to the feet of Nikola. But his shot hit the cross bar after Vishal's fingertips made the difference. For a moment, Chennaiyin thought they may have let the match slip. And this thought became a reality after a few minutes!
Liston made a run on the left, dribbled past Namgyal and put in an inch-perfect cross into the box. The ball found Manvir near the far post, who made no mistake and turned the ball in from 10 feet out. And with that Bagan took the lead. But did the players celebrate? Not really. It was as subtle as possible. The players knew very well that a team with the stature of Bagan should not be struggling to win like that.
Chennaiyin didn't give up and Bagan sat back and defended for the last fifteen minutes. The final whistle blew with them fumbling more opportunities to score from inside the box.
The scoreboard didn't tell the full story. Bagan were awful, almost unrecognizable at times. Is this the same Mohun Bagan that used to crush it opponents? Is this the 'super team' that was promised to Bagan after last year's debacle? The fans found relief in the win but couldn't go home happy.
🟢⚔ 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ⚔🔴
— MBFT (@MBFT89) October 26, 2026
Not Good Enough.
{ Joy Mohun Bagan, MBFT } pic.twitter.com/ic5Fdo6tAW
The Bigger Question for Panos
Questions keep on piling at the moment, the biggest being how long will Panos stay at the helm. The way we win is as important as the final result. Sneaking in a goal or two every game will not satisfy Bagan fans for too long, especially with the team we have this season. Panos has no more excuses, nowhere to run. If Bagan don't mend their ways, don't be surprised to see bigger teams destroying this team.
PANOS NEEDS TO CHANGE AND QUICK! Playing players out of position, tactics not being able to create a spark upfront, younger players not being given any minutes and fan dissatisfaction will only hurt his chances even more.
