'Tactically flexible': ATK Mohun Bagan outsmart Bengaluru FC

It was anticipated to be a battle of wits between two astute tacticians Antonio Lopez Habas and Carles Cuadrat as previous foes ATK Mohun Bagan met Bengaluru FC for the primary time within the Indian Super League (ISL) on Monday.

A tactical match was all the time on playing cards as each groups desire to play in a practical method most of the time. However Antonio Habas shocked everybody together with Carles Cuadrat as ATK Mohun Bagan took an attacking strategy proper from the off.

Habas deployed his aspect in an attacking Four-Three-Three formation with David Williams, Roy Krishna and Manvir beginning within the entrance three and Spanish attacking midfielder enjoying a complicated position. Pronay Halder and Carl McHugh stayed deep in midfield to supply the steadiness.

Within the absence of Javier Hernandez, Edu Garcia was assigned the duty of dictating the sport down the center and the previous Bengaluru man didn’t disappoint. The Spaniard was the point of interest of most of ATK Mohun Bagan’s assault and performed a pivotal position.

The trio up entrance had been a continuing risk David Williams and Manvir working freely on the flanks. Each Harmanjot Khabra and Rahul Bheke had a forgettable outing as they did not hold a test on Williams and Manvir. 

The Australian ahead had been struggling to search out his greatest kind this season, on account of health points, however he determined to mild up in an enormous sport. David Williams was ATK’s saviour in final season’s second leg semifinal conflict and this time he proved to be ATK Mohun Bagan’s knight in shining armour in opposition to a staff Habas considers to be among the best within the league.

Bengaluru FC are recognized for his or her fast actions down the flanks however because of some environment friendly defending by Pritam Kotal and Subhasish Bose, Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh had been stored quiet for many of the sport. In reality, Cuadrat was pressured to bench Udanta at first of the second half because the India worldwide did not have an affect within the sport. The Blues additionally missed the swiftness of Ashique Kuruniyan on the left aspect as Rahul Bheke was nowhere near the Malayali participant when it comes to agility.

Cleiton Silva and Dimas Delgado did not make an influence within the sport. Credit score should be given to McHugh and Halder for now permitting any open area to the Blues duo.

ATK Mohun Bagan’s defending has been top-notch proper from the primary sport however they didn’t look fluent. However this match confirmed that Habas’ aspect are able to enjoying an attacking type of play. They did so nicely within the first half earlier than enjoying defensively within the second half. It additionally helped that Garcia, Williams and Krishna had been all good on the ball and had been in a position to negotiate tight areas with ease.

The ATKMB gamers are getting fitter with each passing sport and this efficiency would have happy Habas.