Chennai City hopes to turn it around against Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan was held to an insipid 1-1 draw by a 10-man Indian Arrows in the last round. It was for the first time an I-League match was held at the Kolkata Maidan but the green-and-maroon brigade failed to make it count against the Indian colts. 

Mohun Bagan’s last win - a 5-0 demolition of Churchill Brothers - had come on December 12. Since then it has failed to make the home games count, dropping points for a third time in a row to slip to fifth place in the standings. 

East Bengal had defeated Chennai 1-2 at the latter’s home venue in the last round and the Sen-coached side would see this as its last chance to return to winning ways.

Chennai has a solitary win and lost four times to be on the eighth place in the table.

Chennai City, too, is guilty of letting in soft goals and that is one aspect it will certainly look to improve upon against Mohun Bagan. 

Terming it as one of the “greatest challenges”, Chennai coach Soundrarajan said: “We are happy to play against Mohun Bagan in its own ground. Bagan is a historic club and is more than 100 years old whereas we are two years old. So, it’s a great opportunity. The spectators will be the biggest challenge as they are huge. We are ready for the challenge.” 

Asked if influential winger Sony Norde’s absence would help Chennai, the coach said: “Apart from him, they have good players and good organisation. If you put any other player, they are as tough as Norde.” 

Chennai’s defence will also get a big boost with the inclusion of a defender Venyamin Shumeyko.