Nicolas Anelka's first start of the Indian Super League did not go according to play. His Mumbai City side lost 4-1 to defending champions Atletico de Kolkata, simultaneously ending two streaks. This was Mumbai's first loss after three straight wins, and Atletico's first win after three straight losses.
It was quite unexpected, especially with how menacing Mumbai's attack looks when Anelka is involved. But behind the four forwards was where the problem lay.
Things unraveled quickly for Mumbai City against Atletico de Kolkata. ISLThings unraveled quickly for Mumbai City against Atletico de Kolkata. ISL
Mumbai's started Franz Bertin in defensive midfield, just like they had in their 5-1 win over NorthEast United. But in that game, Bertin moved back to his natural centre-back position in the second half with Spaniard Juan Aguilera coming on in the 49th minute. It was only after that goal that Mumbai started to control midfield.
In the two wins before that against better teams in Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa, Mumbai started with Cristian Bustos in the middle. The 32-year-old Spaniard is a buzzing presence in midfield, inventive, solid on the tackle and reliable going forward. With 223 of his 244 passes finding their mark (in just five games), he is also their best passer.
Leaving him out, especially after he was rested for the previous game, was a baffling decision. Also, playing a centre-back in midfield sacrifices the initiative that has helped Mumbai City claim nine points out of nine.
The changes cost Mumbai the first half, and, as assistant coach Oscar Bruzon said, "even the match”.
The effect of taking Bertin off in the second half was apparent. Selim Benachour came on as one of three substitutes at half-time and Atletico had to deal with wave after attacking from the home team. He also scored the goal that made it 2-1 but by then, Mumbai had committed too many men forward and were always in danger of being punished on the counter, which is what happened as Atletico's Augustine Fernandes scored to make it 3-1 and put the game out of reach.
"They won because there were 30 to 40 second balls and they took took 80 to 90 percent of them,” Bruzon said. “So in the second half, we wanted Anelka, Benachour and Aguilera to drop and reinforce midfield. We wanted to win these loose balls and get forward. But Atletico understood the game better and were more hungry.”
Then there was the odd strategy of asking Sony Norde and Sunil Chhetri to swap wings numerous times in the match. Neither player settled and even though Mumbai were clearly the better team in the second half, there seemed to be positional confusion in attack. Chhetri, who has proven to be a brilliant No 10 in Mumbai's three wins, was shunted to the right and then to the left as the team fiddled with tactical combinations.
"The tactical draw of team wasn't working well which is why we were trying different combinations throughout the match. After we conceded the penalty (for the second goal), there was a loss of confidence as well," Bruzon said.
Credit to Jaime Gavilan and Iain Hume as well for making Mumbai City's life miserable when the latter made intelligent runs in behind the defence. Gavilan’s pin-point lob was converted with aplomb by Hume on the volley and the striker was set up twice more for chances from which he should have scored.
In the end, Bruzon's assessment was right: "We lost the game in midfield. We failed to control that area and when you cannot control midfield, you lose."
Which is exactly why Mumbai City should play a midfielder in midfield when they face Delhi Dynamos in Delhi on 6 November.
It was quite unexpected, especially with how menacing Mumbai's attack looks when Anelka is involved. But behind the four forwards was where the problem lay.
Things unraveled quickly for Mumbai City against Atletico de Kolkata. ISLThings unraveled quickly for Mumbai City against Atletico de Kolkata. ISL
Mumbai's started Franz Bertin in defensive midfield, just like they had in their 5-1 win over NorthEast United. But in that game, Bertin moved back to his natural centre-back position in the second half with Spaniard Juan Aguilera coming on in the 49th minute. It was only after that goal that Mumbai started to control midfield.
In the two wins before that against better teams in Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa, Mumbai started with Cristian Bustos in the middle. The 32-year-old Spaniard is a buzzing presence in midfield, inventive, solid on the tackle and reliable going forward. With 223 of his 244 passes finding their mark (in just five games), he is also their best passer.
Leaving him out, especially after he was rested for the previous game, was a baffling decision. Also, playing a centre-back in midfield sacrifices the initiative that has helped Mumbai City claim nine points out of nine.
The changes cost Mumbai the first half, and, as assistant coach Oscar Bruzon said, "even the match”.
The effect of taking Bertin off in the second half was apparent. Selim Benachour came on as one of three substitutes at half-time and Atletico had to deal with wave after attacking from the home team. He also scored the goal that made it 2-1 but by then, Mumbai had committed too many men forward and were always in danger of being punished on the counter, which is what happened as Atletico's Augustine Fernandes scored to make it 3-1 and put the game out of reach.
"They won because there were 30 to 40 second balls and they took took 80 to 90 percent of them,” Bruzon said. “So in the second half, we wanted Anelka, Benachour and Aguilera to drop and reinforce midfield. We wanted to win these loose balls and get forward. But Atletico understood the game better and were more hungry.”
Then there was the odd strategy of asking Sony Norde and Sunil Chhetri to swap wings numerous times in the match. Neither player settled and even though Mumbai were clearly the better team in the second half, there seemed to be positional confusion in attack. Chhetri, who has proven to be a brilliant No 10 in Mumbai's three wins, was shunted to the right and then to the left as the team fiddled with tactical combinations.
"The tactical draw of team wasn't working well which is why we were trying different combinations throughout the match. After we conceded the penalty (for the second goal), there was a loss of confidence as well," Bruzon said.
Credit to Jaime Gavilan and Iain Hume as well for making Mumbai City's life miserable when the latter made intelligent runs in behind the defence. Gavilan’s pin-point lob was converted with aplomb by Hume on the volley and the striker was set up twice more for chances from which he should have scored.
In the end, Bruzon's assessment was right: "We lost the game in midfield. We failed to control that area and when you cannot control midfield, you lose."
Which is exactly why Mumbai City should play a midfielder in midfield when they face Delhi Dynamos in Delhi on 6 November.
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