In the year 2014, the world witnessed the ‘birth of a footballing nation’ when the Indian Super League debuted. It has been 3 years since and India is gearing up for the fourth installment of the high-profile football league.
One of the main attractions of the ISL and a key factor for its success has been the rivalries between clubs such as Kerala Blasters FC and ATK (formerly known as Atletico de Kolkata).
Both these clubs have widespread popularity with deeply passionate fan-bases. As a result, whenever there has been an encounter between these two clubs, the stadium has been filled to the brim and the competition
on the pitch has been intense.
The inaugural season saw then ATK forward, Mohammed Rafique score the lone goal in the final, which forever etched his name in the ISL history books.
Last season, these two teams took to the centre of the field for the final once again. This time the club from Kolkata emerged victorious through penalty shootout in the extra time.
The history is intense between the Blasters and the Kolkata-outfit and this season, the opening game will be a rematch of the ISL season 3 final, when Kerala Blasters and ATK square off against each other at Kochi on November 17.
This time around though, both the teams have been completely revamped. The Kochi-based outfit
has hired ex-Manchester United assistant coach, René Meulensteen as head coach while signing former Red Devils marksman, Dimitar Berbatov as its marquee player.
ATK, on the other hand, has called off its partnership with La Liga giants Atletico de Madrid after three successful years and has completely revamped their technical staff by bringing in I-League winning coach Ashley Westwood as technical director and Manchester United-legend Teddy Sheringham as their manager.
Current Form
Kerala Blasters 0-0 Gokulam FC (Pre-season Friendly)
The Blasters took to Spain for their pre-season training and played four matches resulting in 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.
After returning to India, they took part in a closed-door friendly with I-League debutants Gokulam FC, which stood at 0-0 at the final whistle.
However, not much has been disclosed about the training matches by the team. A few images which
have surfaced online suggest that Wes Brown, Iain Hume, Nemanja Lakic-Pesic, Courage Pekuson, Mark Sifneos and Paul Rachubka have all featured for the team in their pre-season friendly, along with CK Vineeth, Rino Anto, Milan Singh and Siam Hangal.
Courage Pekuson and Mark Sifneos have been reported to have scored during their friendlies.
ATK 2-1 Neroca FC (Pre-season Friendly)
ATK travelled to Dubai for their pre-season training and took part in two friendly matches with local clubs.
They won both the matches with the last match being played against UAE Division One team Dibba Al-Hisn Sports & Culture Club.
After returning to India, the red, white and blues played a practice match against I-League club Neroca FC which ended in a 2-1 win for ATK.
However, just like the Blasters, ATK too hasn’t revealed too much other than the scorelines and that Bipin Singh, Rupert Nongrum and Robbie Keane had all found the back of the net during their friendlies.
However, Robby Keane has been confirmed to have suffered an Achilles tendon injury and is supposed to out for two weeks.
ATK has confirmed that the former Irish international will miss the
opening game against the arch-rivals
Kerala Blasters Lineup
Head coach, Muelensteen, has a variety of talent in the final third of the pitch featuring both Indian
players and foreigners. Iain Hume returns to Kerala Blasters after spending two seasons at rivals ATK.
Hume is the all-time top scorer in the ISL and will look to be entrusted with the goal-scoring duties
up front.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper – Subhashish Roy
Centre-back – Sandesh Jhingan, Wes Brown
Left-back – Lalruattharra
Right back – Rino Anto
Central Midfield – Milan Singh, Siam Hangal
Right attacking midfield – Courage Pekuson
Left attacking midfield – CK Vineeth
Central attacking midfield – Dimitar Berbatov
Striker – Iain Hume
Marquee player Berbatov has already made it clear that he would not be playing as a striker and will rather take up a decreased role. The Bulgarian’s creativity and experience will be much appreciated
in a number 10.
Courage Pekuson’s speed and CK Vineeth’s attacking instinct will provide incisiveness on either side
of Berbatov.
While Siam Hangal and Milan Singh might be entrusted with the responsibility to break opposition attacks, shield the back four and create attacks from the back.
The defence features home-grown talents like Jhingan and Rino Anto, who have repeatedly proved their mettle in the ISL and I-League, as well as the experience of ex-Manchester United defender,Wes Brown. Jhingan and Brown will be expected to create a solid centre-back partnership with Rino Anto and Lalruattharra featuring on the right and left back positions respectively.
ATK Lineup
Even though the team is new ATK retains title-winning pedigree with Westwood and Sheringham.
Furthermore, they already have a blueprint of how to achieve success in ISL with their two ISL titles.
Sheringham has traditionally favoured a 4-4-2 approach and will look to create a solid defence and
engage in direct attacks from open play.
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper – Debjit Majumdar
Centre-back – Tom Thorpe, Jordi Figueras
Left-back – Keegan Pereira
Right-back – Prabir Das
Central Midfield – Conor Thomas, Eugeneson Lyngdoh
Right attacking midfield – Carl Baker
Left attacking midfield – Jayesh Rane
Striker – Robin Singh, Njazi Kuqi
Thorpe and Figueras will be expected to form solid bedrock in defence. Prabir Das can be used in a variety of roles but should see himself feature in the right back position. He is one of the players to have been retained by ATK (apart for goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar).
Mumbai City FC import Keegan Pereira will look to feature on the left back, while Conor Thomas will
act as the defensive shield for the back four. Eugeneson Lyngdoh will be entrusted to create attacks from the midfield and supply passes to the front two and the wingers.
With Jayesh Rane and Carl Baker on the left and right flanks, ATK will look to provide marksmen Robin Singh and Kuqi, plenty of opportunities to score. Since Keane will be out with an injury, Kuqi might find a place in the starting lineup.
Key Battle: Thorpe (ATK) vs Iain Hume (Kerala Blasters)
The home team will depend on Hume and his never-die attitude, to bang in the goals, like he did in the inaugural season.
In order to contain Hume from wreaking havoc in the ATK’s defence, Thorpe will be provided with the responsibility to cage the Canadian and restrict him from finding spaces within the penalty area.
It will be interesting to see how the young defender fares against the tournament’s top scorer.
Talking Points
Will Kerala’s defence stand tall in front of ATK’s attack?
Though Berbatov remains a world-class player, he hasn’t played a professional game since May 31,
2016. Kerala’s striking force will mainly depend on Hume to bring in the goals, while Jhingan and Brown’s partnership at the back will be expected to keep out invaders.
ATK, on the other hand, has been built mainly around proven Indian players like Lyngdoh, Prabir Das and Robin Singh. Additionally, they have chosen to enforce key areas like defence, flanks and striker with foreign signings.
The team has been built to play direct football and their attack will look to test the Blasters’ defensive cohesion.
Prediction: ATK 1-0 Kerala Blasters
The game will be a test of who plays the best attacking football with both managers having Manchester United on their resume. Meulensteen might turn out to be the more defensive of the two and might look to sit deep and strike on the counter. Sheringham, on the other hand, will look to control the ball and use one of the foreign forwards to provide service to Robin Singh in front of the goal.
However, none of the managers will like to risk it all in the opening game of the season since it will be crucial to building confidence. At the end, I expect ATK to edge the Blasters with a single goal.
Sayantan Writes 