Chennaiyin FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan: Preview, H2H as CFC Captain Anirudh Thapa eyes to capitalize on home matches

Currently
placed
eighth
on
the
standings
with
16
points,
Chennaiyin
are
just
four
points
behind
sixth-placed
FC
Goa.

The
team
will
be
playing
four
of
their
remaining
seven
matches
in
front
of
the
home
fans,
with
the
first
one
scheduled
on
Saturday
against
ATK
Mohun
Bagan
at
the
Jawaharlal
Nehru
Stadium
in
Chennai.

“It’s
important
to
be
in
the
Top-6.
I
think
those
[four
matches
at
home]
will
be
crucial
because
if
we
grab
all
the
points
at
home,
then
it
will
be
a
plus
point
for
us.
Playing
away
against
Goa
and
Bengaluru
will
be
difficult
because
they
are
also
in
the
race,
and
they
won’t
let
it
go,”
the
team
skipper
Anirudh
Thapa
told
the
media
during
the
pre-match
press
conference.

Chennaiyin
have
dominated
their
opponents
in
their
recent
games,
including
draws
against
Jamshedpur
and
Hyderabad
in
their
last
two
matches,
but
haven’t
managed
to
pocket
all
three
points.
With
the
focus
on
the
next
game,
Thapa
said
his
side
will
look
to
score
more
and
defend
better
rather
than
just
playing
well
or
keeping
the
ball.

The
star
of
the
season
Abdenasser
El
Khayati,
who
has
seven
goals
to
his
name
from
as
many
matches,
has
returned
from
the
injury
earlier
this
week,
but
head
coach
Thomas
Brdaric
informed
that
the
Dutchman
will
require
more
time
to
regain
match
fitness.
He
further
heaped
praises
on
Thapa,
saying
the
25-year-old
Indian
could
play
El
Khayati’s
role.

“We
have
to
look
for
some
replacement
for
him
[El
Khayati],
and
one
player
who
can
replace
him
in
another
position
is
Anirudh
Thapa.
He
is
a
box-to-box
player
with
other
abilities
like
Nasser
and
has
almost
played
a
little
more
above
his
position,”
Brdaric
said.

Adding
to
the
coach,
Thapa
reflected
on
his
new
role
and
says
he
is
learning
his
trade
in
the
new
role
as
a
more
advanced
playmaker.

“I’m
learning
a
lot
about
how
to
handle
that
position
and
how
I
can
help
the
team.
I
feel
I
can
deliver
more
in
terms
of
goals
and
assists.
Hopefully,
I
will
prove
myself
in
the
coming
matches,”
he
concluded.

Meanwhile,
fourth-placed
ATK
Mohun
Bagan
have
traveled
to
Chennai
on
the
back
of
a
loss
against
Mumbai
City
at
home.
Although
Chennaiyin
beat
Mariners
in
their
first
meeting
of
the
season,
Brdaric
feels
Juan
Ferrando’s
men
will
pose
a
challenge
for
the
home
team.

After
being
on
the
road
for
three
consecutive
Hero
ISL
games,
Chennaiyin
FC
will
return
to
the
Marina
Arena
for
their
next
clash.
The
Marina
Machans
are
winless
in
their
last
four
games
after
drawing
three
and
losing
one.
Additionally,
Thomas
Brdaric’s
side
have
been
lacking
at
home
this
season,
winning
just
one
out
of
six
games
in
their
own
backyard.

“I’m
not
happy
with
the
results
[in
the
last
few
games].
Some
people
appreciate
our
game
and
style,
but
it’s
not
enough
for
me.
I’m
here
to
fight
for
titles,”
Brdaric
said.

Chennaiyin
vs
ATK
Mohunbagan
H2H
Record:

The
teams
have
faced
each
other
5
times
in
the
past.
Chennaiyin
have
1
win
while
the
Kolkata
giants
have
registered
2
wins,
with
2
matches
ending
in
a
stalemate.

Chennaiyin
vs
ATK
Mohun
Bagan
Current
Positions:

The
home
side
are
8th
in
the
ISL
table
with
16
points
and
will
be
hoping
to
close
the
gap
between
them
and
the
playoff
numbers.
ATK,
on
the
other
hand,
are
sitting
4th
with
23
points
and
will
be
eyeing
to
overtake
Kerala
Blasters
and
go
a
place
better
in
the
league
table.
The
visitors
are
without
an
away
win
in
two
matches,
and
will
be
aiming
to
end
that
run
in
Chennai.