News Analysis India

Tag: ATKMB

  • Williams goal gives ATK Mohun Bagan 1-0 win vs Bengaluru FC

    “Yes [on plan coming off?]. I am very happy with the behaviour and performance. Today, the team had the personality to win. [Manvir’s change in position?] Manvir and Williams are important as Roy. This system is better for the players we have now, we can change another day. Williams has recovered to play for us now. [Change in tactics vs BFC] We pressurised them well in the first 45 minutes with the high press. After that we were tired. We had a different plan to go with as compared to last match and changed the role for this game and the behaviour of the team is good also.”

     “We know the quality of these guys. I think we were fighting till the end to equalise but it’s about little margins. Cleiton had a chance then Suresh. [On starting XI] I am starting with them but you know we have five games in 20 days so we have to be careful with the dynamic of the team. I think we were fighting the whole 90 minutes. [On Fran Gonzalez playing as CB] No, you have to take decision and it is difficult to beat ATKMB because they are compact. I put him in the CB position because we can put others in attacking position, who can score goals like Sunil, Cleiton, Semboi, Kristian etc.”

  • It’s not about who can win title, it’s about who can challenge Habas, ATKMB

    Less than two weeks into the new campaign, with each team having played fewer than three games, Antonio Habas and ATK Mohun Bagan have already made one thing clear. This season is not about who can mount a title challenge. It’s about who can challenge Habas and ATKMB for the title.

    You can talk about the long and dull periods that form the majority of their games, when they do so little with the ball, and force the opposition down to an annoyingly similar trudge. You can point to their predictability, or their overreliance Roy Krishna. You can go on about Habas’ rigid and consistent conservativism – he’d probably start with seven defensive players even if they face Indian Arrows tomorrow.

    Or you can ignore all this, and focus on the simplest and most tangible aspects in measurement of success in football: Games won and trophies gathered.

    ATKMB have played three, won three and are yet to concede a goal this season. That’s as good a start as any.There’s a reason ATK have been (and by the looks of it, ATKMB will likely continue to be) ISL’s most efficient side and Habas the league’s most successful coach. While some may view his tactics as regressive, Habas has quietly finetuned it into a brilliant template.

    There’s no denying that ATKMB can be agonising to watch at times. It’s also true that some teams might eventually figure out a way to disrupt this gameplan, but until there are enough of those who can, could you really blame Habas for sticking to his formula?