Kolkata: After playing out a 1-1 draw against Rainbows SC in their previous encounter, Mohun Bagan face Mohammedan Sporting Club at the Kalyani stadium on Monday in the ‘mini derby’ of the Calcutta Football League.
With the league title at stake, both sides will look to win at any cost if they are to keep up the pace with defending champions East Bengal, who lead the table with 18 points from 6 matches and are two points clear of second placed Mohun Bagan who have 16 points have played the same number of matches. Mohammedan Sporting Club on the other hand, have just accumulated 10 points from five outings and will have to win all of their remaining matches and also wait for other results to go their way if they are to challenge for the title.
With controversies surrounding them after club official Srinjoy Bose accused the IFA of biasness while also calling the CFL a ‘circus’, Bagan will look to get back to winning ways to be on the race for the title, before the derby against arch-rivals East Bengal on September 24.
The Mariners who have conceded just three goals in the league so far, will once again expect their defence to be organised as they have been throughout, other than the match against Rainbows SC. The Kamo-Kromah combination that has been the fulcrum to Bagan’s attacks will have to be in full form, if they are win the match.
Mohammedan Sporting also had a similar fate when they drew their match 1-1 against Calcutta Customs. They however, will take heart from the fact that they have not lost to the Green and Maroon brigade in their last seven encounters. Placed third at the moment, they will not only have to win their remaining encounters but also depend on other results in order to win the league title for the first time since 1981.
Head coach Biswajit Bhattacharya opined just that in an interaction with xtratime.com, when he said, “The game against Mohun Bagan is a determining factor to our future in the league and we are aware of what is expected of us. We want to win and my sole focus is on that. Let’s concentrate on ourselves. If we do well, other things will automatically be taken care of.”
Calling his opponent on Monday a strong team Bhattacharya continued, “Mohun Bagan is a very good team and you have to be in your best form when you play against them. We have to make the most of the opportunities because you can only win matches by scoring goals.”
With nothing less than a win in mind for both the teams, it is expected to be a cracker of a game. Both teams have been lethal on attack at times, while also faltering occasionally. But Bagan has had a better defensive organisation, having leaked the least number of goals in the league so far.
Cameroonian striker Dipanda Dicka who has signed for the Mariners for the upcoming I -League will look to impress his future employers by putting up a better performance.
One of those who still believes that the Black Panthers can win the title, Dicka before the match said, “Everything is possible in football. What we have to do is just keep winning. It’s not easy but certainly achievable. We are very determined and the confidence has always been there.”
Mohun bagan are set to miss midfielder Chesterpaul Lyngdoh for the match after he suffered a head injury in their previous encounter. Mohammedan Sporting on the other hand have no injury scare and will go into the match with their best possible squad.