PREVIEW: Bengaluru FC host Mumbai FC; Tactical battle of the two new Coaches
CHANGE IS A TROUBLE-MAKER. It is capable of diverting the course of things down the drain at the same time it even has the power to turn into something beautiful. Both the football clubs in the preview are in transition of a change, Bengaluru FC have mostly through with the transition whereas Mumbai FC are still in the early phase.
BFC under Albert Roca started their voyage for the change mid year in 2016 when Ashley Westwood, their first and only Manager decided to head different ways. The team had won their second I-League title, the squad was stable and the game play was such that had aggression mingled with attacking mindset.
Roca was roped in as the new manager. His preparation did not leave any gaps to be filled up by his successor therefore making the transition much more smoother than Mumbai's.
Mumbai FC, on the other hand, had to undergo a tougher transition after the long-tenured Coach Khalid Jamil moved away. He left a void in his place to be filled by means the way the team has played together according to the age-old vision unchanged since years and the financial constraints accompanied with it.
History and Head-to-Head
All teams are driven by an ideology that usually sets the tone of how a team approaches a season. Bengaluru FC have had a long term vision and a plan to match that. They also have the financial backing to implement to their plan.
Mumbai FC, on the other hand, had a vision that aimed to keep the team from suffering relegation.That vision is rather unusual but it have been the outcome of deprived financial purses to the the team.
Over the years, Bengaluru FC have been the stronger and and much technically-advanced side compared to Mumbai. But Mumbai have always proved to be the thorn in their way to getting easy three point. Owing to the the team's aim to just avoid relegation, Mumbai have been at times ultra-defensive just to churn out a draw in order to not lose points. That style of getting the single point from games by the passive game play often drew boos from the crowd along with continued criticism. For attacking teams like Bengaluru, it meant frustration unable to play their natural game. So much so, that it took Ashley Westwood's team over two years to beat the then Jamil's side. The two sides have played 6 matches so far in history, with each side winning a match and four of them ending in draws. Bengaluru FC won the last match at their home 1-0.
Season so far
Post the change of managers, Mumbai FC have had the bigger and much more visible change of the two teams. New Manager and Coach Santosh Kashyap in his press talks said that there was a need to change the thought process of many in his camp starting from the top management to the players. This was not easy. When Kashyap announced the Mumbai FC will aim to finish in the top three in the League, he made already ushered in a revolution of sorts. From being mid-table finishers to aiming high in the table, Mumbai needed to match that with their on-field performance. In the two games that Kashyap's side have played, we have seen an all-Indian squad that has performed like never before. They have shown desire to win all three points comprehensively. This approach also goes in line with the Coach's promise of displaying attacking and effective football.
When we turn our attention to the champions under Albert Roca, we see the same squad that was under Westwood, playing with a more cautious intention, not wanting to rush with throwing numbers forward. Under Westwood, Bengaluru were not afraid to committing players and had a more aggression in their play. The measured approach by Roca is probably the way, how the team is to play against stronger Asian teams who are quick and dynamic and aggression might not be the best way to beat a tactically better team.
Both teams coming in undefeated and kept a clean sheet in both games. Bengaluru have scored 5 goals in two games and Mumbai have won both games with a solitary goal victories.
Prediction
Bengaluru will look to keep up their winning form with the pressure of being favourites against Mumbai FC. Kashyap, till the second game had not signed any foreign players.
Mumbai FC will have to be organised at the back as the home side will look to dominate the ball, have more possession and control the game.Thoi Singh has been the key player for Mumbai and would be key to win the midfield battle. For Bengaluru on the other hand, Udanta Singh has been one of the star performers, deployed in the right side of the front three with his flare and timely runs.
The Australian, Cameron Watson, who is a key player Albert Roca's system did not play the last match due to a stomach bug and would be a great miss of he is still unfit.
Mumbai can frustrate Bengaluru by showing good defensive organisation, which Chennai City almost showed up until the last quarter of the match, and hit them on the counter using quality of the likes of Steven Dias.
Both sides will look to defeat their opponents, as majority of their past encounters have ended in draws. It could very well be a tactical game as the new Mumbai FC is very much capable of putting a good show and so Bengaluru, wary of this might not take the visitors too lightly. The players certainly will be ready for a nerve racking atmosphere and so will the fans be to create one.
