Defying odds, Mohun Bagan SG secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s ISL match against Odisha FC, thanks to Armando Sadiku’s double strike, which included an equaliser in the dying minutes.
However, Yuba Bharati Krirangan witnessed too much drama. It left Mohun Bagan SG with a huge worry going ahead in their campaign to defend the title. Placed third, having played fewer matches than the top two, their injury concerns are growing. In different degrees, as many as nine players are in that list.
Anwar Ali, Ashique Kuruniyan, Manvir Singh, Dimitri Petratos, Hugo Boumous, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Glan Martins, Kiyan Nassiri. Some of them are first-choice players in key positions.
Before the kick-off against Odisha FC, Boumous, named in the starting XI, had to limp off due to an ankle twist, after taking two shots during the warm-up. Jason Cummings was named as an emergency replacement for the French midfielder.
Things got worse not only when Mohun Bagan SG conceded two goals before heading into the tunnel at the break, but also when Juan Ferrando’s team suffered two more major blows.
Key players, Thapa and Sahal, had to be replaced due to injuries. Anirudh hurt his hand in a collision. Sahal was roughly tackled by Ahmed Jahouh.
The injury woes did not end here. Half-time replacement Martins also went back to the bench after appearing uncomfortable with his knee.
After North East United in an away fixture, three tough tests await Mohun Bagan SG — Mumbai City (Dec 20, away), FC Goa (Dec 23, home) and Kerala Blasters (Dec 27, home). It’s going to be difficult.
“It’s unfortunate that we lost Hugo in the warm-up, then Sahal and Thapa, not because of any muscle injury, but contact injuries. Kiyan is okay. He had some problems in the muscles. Of course, we don’t have Dimi. And Ashique and Anwar are long-term injuries,” Mohun Bagan SG assistant coach Clifford Miranda said after the match.
The thrilling game saw drama and heated arguments between the teams. Mohun Bagan coach Ferrando was shown a red card for a spat with Odisha FC striker Roy Krishna.
“To be honest, I did not see that. I trust my coach 100%. My coach wasn’t involved in any malicious things. But we know the nature of the game and the decisions that went on in the game. The less I speak about that, the better, because we’ve all seen the game and how the decisions went,” Clifford indirectly blamed the match officials and players of the opposition.
As per sources, Manvir and Petratos are likely to return for the North-East game. Thapa, Boumos, Kiyan and Glan’s injuries don’t seem serious, but their availability for that fixture is in doubt.
The biggest setback for Ferrando is Sahal’s injury. After the match, he was limping off the stadium. If this gets serious, it will also be a blow for the national team ahead of the AFC Asian Cup in January in Doha. The national camps are likely to start the moment the league gets paused at the end of December.
“I’m not concerned about the national team. I am concerned about Mohun Bagan. I don’t know. The medical team will assess, and then we will see,” Clifford said of Sahal’s injury. He will undergo tests to find out the extent of the damage.
This situation will test Ferrando and his reserve bench. “It is difficult with a lot of injuries. But then we knew this and that is why we have a squad. We have players who can fill in and hopefully do the job,” said Clifford.