A tournament entirely for India

Tennis is perhaps one of the few sports that do not have a time-quotient. A match can be scheduled for three hours, but it can end in one or stretch beyond three. This, according to the purists, contributes to the sport’s beauty.

But in 2005, for the first time in more than 30 years until then, the scoring system was tinkered with. In an ATP tournament in Beijing, doubles sets were played to six games with a tiebreak at 5-5. Then in Tokyo, sets were played to five with a tiebreak at 4-4. Both had no-ad games. The French pair of Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra even won a match 3-5, 5-4, 5-4. Later on, a match tiebreaker to 10 points was proposed instead of the third set.

However, these changes didn’t cut much ice. Since then, only the match tiebreak and the no-ad scoring have survived and none of the experiments has even touched singles.

Now, these changes are set to make a comeback, albeit not on the ATP tour, but in the two cash-rich city-based tennis leagues that will be played in India over the next two months — Vijay Amritraj’s Champions Tennis League (CTL) and Mahesh Bhupathi’s International Tennis Premier League (ITPL).

At a time when international tournaments in India are few and far between, these two leagues, with their battery of international superstars, are seeking to fill the void. In a chat with Sportstar, Vijay Amritraj, tells us how it will help Indian tennis, the idea behind the format and its long-term goals.

Excerpts:

Question: What made you think of CTL?

Answer: About three or four years ago, we wanted to get another event in India apart from the Chennai Open. Around 20 years back, when I was the ATP president, I brought the Chennai Open. People look forward to it every year whether or not the stars are playing. But one tournament is not enough. Consistent live action with international stars is missing. So this endeavour.

How will it benefit Indian tennis?

It gives an opportunity for our Davis Cup players to play alongside international stars. One can see how these stars think, strategise, practise, eat and so on.

Apart from them, it will also help inspire the next set of youngsters — those below 20. Because Chennai Open has nothing to do with juniors, it’s pretty much an international tournament. Here they get an opportunity to be on the same team with them. For example, Ramkumar Ramanathan will have Thomas Enqvist as his captain and will play doubles with Feliciano Lopez, which is great.

Do you think a part of this money and sponsorship would be better spent holding more Challengers, which will actually help the players climb the rankings?

Here I feel the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has done very well. There are so many tournaments in India, both Challengers and Futures. We never had these 20 years ago. Earlier, to get to 300 in the rankings from around 1000 you had to go overseas. Not anymore. One can get to 250 only by playing at home which is a huge plus. From there, it’s up to the individual.

ATP’s executive chairman and President Chris Kermode recently termed ITPL as ‘Glorified Exhibition’. How different is CTL?

This is entirely for India — for the Davis Cup players and the juniors. It has international stars in action only in India. Also, the players who are in the team are committed to play in all matches.

In the ITPL, Roger Federer is playing for the Micromax India Aces only in Delhi, but not in Singapore. I don’t know how it works. For a team you need to play everywhere. Here Venus Williams will play for Bangalore everywhere. It builds a real team environment, makes it really competitive and more interesting for the public to follow.

City based leagues are increasing — like the Indian Badminton League, then Pro-Kabaddi and the Indian Super League football. These have, however, retained the essence of the game. With the CTL, there is some tinkering. No-ad scoring, nine-point tiebreakers at 5-5 instead of 6-6, and so on. Is there an apprehension that this might not be well received?

Not really. The basics remain the same. It’s still two serves. The courts, the balls, the equipment are the same. The no-ad scoring is to cut short the game. (No possibility of seemingly endless deuce games).

The tiebreaker is not much different. In the early days, they used to be at eight games all. In the late seventies, we moved to six-all. Time constraint and TV scheduling has much to do with these changes. It’s like the difference that exists between Tests and One-Day Internationals, although I don’t like to make this comparison because one is an individual sport and the other a team sport.

What’s the long-term objective? How will the brand be sustained?

The franchises have been signed for a nine-year period and television rights for five years. So, it’s long-term. It does help that the sport as a career option is getting traction. So many players are getting paid. This is a big positive.

Also, there are so many leagues in the country now. This is something that I never dreamt of when I played. This has made it appealing for both TV and sponsorships will come in.

What is the growth you are expecting in the coming years? Any new franchises?

The entire thing is based on the ATP and WTA calendars. It’s challenging. If we can get two full weeks it will be great. We can do more.

* * *

CTL format

Six teams - Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad - of four players each are divided into two groups.

Each team will play the other two in its group on home and away basis.

Each match will consist of five sets. Each set will be played by different sets of players. So, there will be a set each of legends, mixed doubles, women's singles, men's doubles and men's singles.

A set will have a nine-point tiebreaker at 5-5 and no-ad scoring. In the traditional 12-point tiebreaker, the first to reach 7 points with at least a 2-point difference over the opponent will win the set. If not, it prolongs until there is a difference of two points. In a nine-point tiebreaker, the first to reach 5 wins. Even 5-4 is allowed.

The team which has the highest aggregate of games over five sets wins the match.

The teams with the highest number of games (not sets) won in their respective groups, will play the final.

http://www.sportstaronnet.com/stories/20141122507905400.htm

Gouramangi set to test his skills

Gouramangi Singh, capped 71 times by India, has been a prolific performer in the domestic circuit, and had won the AIFF ‘Player of the Year’ award in 2010. The 28-year-old, who hails from Manipur, is now eager to test his skills against quality opposition in the inaugural ISL. The Chennaiyin FC defender spoke to The Hindu about his expectations from the new League.

Excerpts:

How different has the experience been compared to your time with I-League clubs?

The approach has been very positive so far, with the involvement of big stars — both on and off the field. Only the training ground has been a concern. But everything else — from the hotel, to food, to nutritionist, to physios — is so much better compared to what I have experienced before. It’s a big thing for us to enjoy such professional organisation off the field.

What about the on-field changes?

You can’t change the quality of Indian players [overnight] but the approach has been good. My generation [of players] always wanted to test our quality against the best in the world but there was not much opportunity. But now the ISL is trying to replicate the European football atmosphere here. Lot of good things will happen to Indian football over the next five to 10 years. Few of the best players in the world are here and the intensity of training is completely different. Of course the stadiums and other infrastructure cannot improve in a year. So, things are not perfect yet but it’s a great start.

But can the I-League and ISL co-exist?

Let’s not think about that now and just concentrate on the next three months. We can debate, listen to opinions and reach a decision once the ISL is over.

How has it been working with Marco Materazzi?

He has been very approachable and nice. He is always pushing us. The environment at the training ground is very positive and his encouragement motivates us.

How important will be the role of Indian players?

It’s a team game. So it’s equally important. And from the first day Marco has emphasised that. Even M.S. Dhoni [co-owner] said the dressing room has to be united. So we are trying to know each other.

Which team do you think has the best Indian players?

I feel it’s equally balanced. Because the domestic draft was a much better option than an auction.

And what are your expectations?

We have a short time to acclimatise and we are working hard. At the end of the day I want to play the ISL final.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/gouramangi-set-to-test-his-skills/article6486227.ece

Koke rescues NorthEast with late equaliser

It was Chennaiyin FC’s toughest test so far, facing a fast, youthful and high-pressing side in NorthEast United FC. In the end, not much separated the two, with the all-too-well-known individual brilliance of Elano and the relentless pressure applied by the away team ensuring a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

On the eve of the match, it was expected to be a battle between contrasting styles and on matchday, it played out more or less the same way. There was much improvement from Chennai in terms of build-up play, the first sign of which appeared around the quarter-hour mark with Elano, John Stiven Mendoza and Harmanjot Khabra stitching together a delightful passing move on the right flank.  

It also helped that Materazzi took a more advanced role and constantly drifted forward. This played a part in the opening goal. It was surprising that the towering Italian wasn’t closed down before he passed leftwards to Denson Devadas, who curled in a neat cross.

Elano beat Capdevila at the near-post with a perfectly timed jump to head the ball in for his seventh goal in six matches.

Ascendency

However, the first half ended with NEUFC on the ascendency. The side pushed forward relentlessly. While James Keene started as a forward, Koke, who started just behind him, and defensive midfielder Felipe de Castro often switched positions. The duo was outstanding throughout the match, tracking down every ball and providing the attacking thrust whenever needed.

On the other hand, the NEUFC wide defenders often played on the overlap. One such run by the right-back Aibor Khongjee resulted in the equaliser on 38 minutes, when he crossed for James Keene to unselfishly head it towards Seimeinlen Doungel.

It was a defensive mix-up with none of the Chennai defenders trying to dispossess him. Len finished it with a clean left-footed strike.

In the second half, Chennai’s attacks were almost always nipped in the bud.

Its players were hurried into making passes in the centre of the pitch and they lost possession easily. However, NEUFC didn’t do much after having won the ball. 

With barely 10 minutes left, he danced past two defenders looking for an outstretched leg. But like much of the match, the NEUFC players refrained from fouling deep inside their half. But Elano shot through a defender’s leg to make it 2-1. 

A tackle from behind in the 83rd minute by Elano on Castro near the halfway line earned him a yellow.

From the resulting free-kick, which was taken after a protracted tussle between players, Khongjee crossed.

In another defensive mix-up, Gouramangi Singh and Bernard Mendy both went for the same ball and lost it.

A superb volley from Koke into the far right corner salvaged a point for NEUFC.

With the result Chennai remains second with 11 points, but has played a game less than table-topper Atletico de Kolkata (12). NEUFC (9) is up to fourth on goal difference.

The result:

Chennaiyin FC 2 (Elano 25, 78) drew with NorthEast United FC 2 (Len 38, Koke 85).

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/indian-super-league-koke-rescues-northeast-with-late-equaliser/article6578674.ece

NEUFC looks to go back with a win

For NorthEast United FC, Saturday’s game against Chennaiyin FC will mark the culmination of a hectic away schedule. It will be the team’s fourth game on the road. It has won, drawn and lost a game each during this period.

A positive result at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will go some way in assuaging fears about a side which has blown hot and cold so far.

“We are looking forward to it,” said manager Rickie Herbert. “We enjoy being on the road. These players have played together in the I-League. Now it’s the ISL. Different atmosphere, bigger stadiums, bigger crowds… It’s a learning curve.”

Going into the match, of particular concern for the fifth-placed Highlanders will be their goal-scoring ability and fatigue due to their high-pressing approach. It has scored only four goals in six matches and after having given an impressive account of its style of play against the Delhi Dynamos, it came a cropper against FC Pune City, losing 1-0.

“We have also conceded just four (goals),” said Herbert. “So we have stayed competitive. Rehenesh has been a revelation in the goal. It’s a confidence thing for the strikers. We have created chances but haven’t been able to convert. So I hope it turns around.”

On his team’s playing style Herbert said, “We are very good at it. I don’t see any problem. Probably we are the best passing side in the league. Against Pune it was just an off day when everybody was collectively a notch below their best.”

In Chennai, which, with a win could go top, it will be up against a team which has so far chosen to sit back and play on the counter. Elano and John Stiven Mendoza have moulded into a lethal partnership when playing long balls, but the lack of creativity and build-up play in the final third should be a worry. “They are fast and youthful. But we have done our preparations and would look to implement them,” said assistant coach Vivek Nagul. Some of those might be in the midfield area which Nagul said will see some changes.

It remains to be seen if Marco Materazzi has the legs to start his third game in a row. Deep-lying playmaker Bojan Djordjic, who has a lingering shoulder problem and didn’t play in the previous match against Atletico de Kolkata, and N.P. Pradeep might see some action.

Former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba, Chennai’s latest signing, is unlikely to feature having joined the team only on Thursday.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/indian-super-league-neufc-looks-to-go-back-with-a-win/article6575632.ece

'Manchester United was a bit too early'

On August 10, 2003 two players made their debut for Manchester United. One went on to win three league titles and the Champions League in six dazzling years. The other made all of 20 appearances in two years before frittering away. The careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Djemba Djemba then never crossed each others. The former went on to win awards as coveted as the FIFA Ballon d’or while the other became a typical journeyman hovering from club to club across countries.

But Djemba Djemba, the 33-year-old Cameroonian, says he has ‘no regrets’ and is richer for the experience. He shared his thoughts with The Hindu after signing for Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League.

Why did you choose Chennaiyin FC?

My agent talked to me first. Then I spoke to (Mikael) Silvestre and (Bernard) Mendy. Silvestre is older and has a lot of experience having played in England, France, Italy etc. So he said it’s a good team to come and play for. And greats like (Alessandro) Del Piero, Marco (Materazzi) are here. So I thought it was a great opportunity.

You have said before that you want to play till 36 or 37. Now you are 33. In that sense how will this stint help you?

I consider it as a growth opportunity. It’s important for me to play (regularly). I want continue playing till 37 or 38. I will enjoy this tournament first and then think whether to stay or move. For now I want to win this tournament.

You are known as a tough midfielder who breaks up attacks. Materazzi has played in that role in the last two matches. So what will your role be?

I haven’t discussed it yet with Marco. I am professional and play for the team. But I can sit in front of the defence and break up attacks. So, I will be happy to share that burden with him.

Tell us about the days you played with Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

It was great. Both were young. Cristiano was around 16 or 17. He used to live with his mother. I used to live alone. And he used to be always with me, during training and afterwards. He used to come to my house. And today he is one of the best in the world. Rooney too. He is a very tough guy and has great mentality. I am happy to see them where they are.

When you played for Manchester, you weren’t a big star one generally associates with United. How did you cope with that?

It’s part of life. I have learnt from that. When I joined Manchester I was very young. I was coming from nowhere. Roy Keane was injured then. So I played for one and half years. But when Keane came back, he had to play because he was the captain.

So I think it was a bit too early. I think I was at the right place but not at the right time. Alex Ferguson, who first signed me, met me later when I was playing in Denmark. I was 27 or 28 then and much more mature. He said, ‘I wish I could take you back’.

What are your first impressions of India?

People are friendly. When I landed in Mumbai, some Manchester fans recognised me and wished me luck. It was nice.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/richer-for-the-experience-djemba/article6571659.ece

Chennaiyin maintains unbeaten home record

It was a match in which both Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) and Chennaiyin FC went for caution and, rightly, the game suffered for it. It was only apt that it ended 1-1, with both goals coming from the spot. Both teams also finished with 10 men. 

Chennai started with a 4-3-1-2 formation with Harmanjot Khabra and Denson Devadas on either side of Marco Materazzi protecting the back four. Atletico de Kolkata lined up in 4-2-3-1 with Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato sitting back and performing the duties of defensive midfielders.

Much of the play was in the centre of the pitch. But with both sets of players sticking to each other, neither side had much time on the ball. ATK’s only bit of creative play came right at the start when Luis Garcia split the Chennai defence and Joffre Mateu slid the ball across the goal-line from the left.

However, no striker was in sight to tap it in.  The visitors, defended in banks of four throughout. This allowed Chennai practically no chance for playing long balls. After initially attempting to despatch a couple, the idea was shunned.

Chennai, after finding it tough to break through the middle, stretched the play a bit. It was then that two chances arrived.

Gouramangi Singh first, and then Khabra put impressive crosses from the right flank. The ATK defence, however, held together. Soon, even that channel was closed down with wide midfielder Joffre dropping back.

Sending off

Then, ATK was handed a massive advantage on 33 minutes, when Chennai goalkeeper Shilton Paul was sent off for bringing down Mohammed Rafi.

The latter was through on goal and had looped the ball above Shilton before being fouled. Garcia slotted the ensuing penalty into the bottom right corner.  Chennai, predictably, sacrificed debutant striker Jean Maurice to keep its defensive shape and brought in Gennaro Bracigliano to man the goalmouth. 

But immediately after the break, it was even-stevens with Joffre getting a second yellow for simulation, while attempting to beat Bracigliano. As a result, ATK, with a goal up, dropped further back, with the defensive duo of Fernandez and Nato playing their roles to perfection.

Defender Bernard Mendy charged into the midfield on occasions, only for the opposition defenders to close him down. Towards the end, Chennai threw more men behind the ball by bringing in the forwards Balwant Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua.

With the game drawing to a close, ATK seemed to have earned a crucial away win until John Stiven Mendoza was brought down by Kinshuk Debnath in injury time.

Elano, who didn’t have much luck with a slew of free-kicks early on, scored to maintain Chennai’s unbeaten home record.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/indian-super-league-chennaiyin-maintains-unbeaten-home-record/article6564573.ece

A keen battle of table toppers

It’s that phase in the Indian Super League (ISL) where teams hoping to become champions are beginning to stake claim.

For Chennaiyin FC, the league’s second-placed team, it starts against Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) on Tuesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

It will mark the start of a frenetic period for Chennai. Four games will be played in the next 14 days, including three against the two of the best teams in the league so far — ATK and NorthEast United FC and one against Pune FC.

Table-topper Kolkata is coming off a well-earned rest. After having played five games in the first 14 days, it hasn’t taken the field for more than a week.

A bit of rustiness is a given, but the team’s marquee signing Luis Garcia, who is returning after an injury lay-off, sought to look at the positives.

 “It was important that we got that rest,” he said.

“We played a lot at the start. So this (rest) has been good and it will help us approach the game better.”

 It will be interesting how the match unfolds. Unlike Chennai’s previous opponents, Mumbai City FC, ATK doesn’t play with a high-defensive line.

Both sides, at least on available evidence, look content on sitting back and hitting on the counter.

“Yes. It has been one of our strategies,” said Chennai’s player-manager Marco Materazzi.

“But we have scored 10 goals so far. So it is not the only way. We want to see our fans happy by scoring more goals.”

A major reason for Chennai’s thumping 5-1 win against Mumbai was the effectiveness of the Materazzi-Elano-John Stiven Mendoza combination. Materazzi neutralised Nicolas Anelka’s attacking thrust by employing himself in a shielding role, while the other two wrecked havoc at the front.

A scare

However, the team was given a scare when Mendoza was down with fever a couple of days back. However Materazzi confirmed that the Colombian was fit though he remained non-committal on playing himself, in a role akin to his last, but this time to neutralise Luis Garcia.

Kolkata will continue to miss the services of Head Coach Antonio Lopez Habas in the dug-out and forward Fikru Lemessa on the pitch, both of whom are serving suspensions.

Baljit Singh Sahni acquitted himself well in the latter’s absence by scoring a goal in the previous match against Kerala Blasters and should continue to do so here.

For Chennai, defenders Jairo Andres Suarez Carvajal and Abhishek Das are out.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/indian-super-league-a-keen-battle-of-table-toppers/article6561703.ece

I believe ISL will come good, says Beto

In the annals of the I-League, Roberto Mendes Silva, popularly called ‘Beto’, is regarded as one of the finest players. The Brazilian playmaker is a three-time I-League champion — twice with Goan club Dempo for whom he played for from 2005 to 2011 and once with Churchill Brothers during his two-year stay from 2011.

But, when the Indian Super League (ISL) came calling, the focus shifted from the I-league and its players towards more marketable foreign players and coaches. Yet Beto has managed to leave his imprint.

Getting Zico

Through his player agency Get Pro Sports Management, he has roped in the Brazilian trio of legendary Zico, FC Goa manager and the biggest name in the ISL, Elano, Chennaiyin FC’s marquee player and the league’s best player so far, and Andre Santos, the FC Goa defender who has played for Arsenal in the past.

“Players should first trust [you],” says Beto on how he convinced these big names to come to India. “That was the biggest challenge. But I believed that India had a lot to offer. I explained that and all the players trusted me.”

There were indeed hiccups. Some contractual specifics had to be negotiated with Zico and some payment-related issues with the others. But they were ironed out in time for them to liven up the Indian football scene. “There were issues. It wasn’t simple. We had to work a lot. But they are not in it for money. The players, in turn, will add a lot (to Indian football).”

For someone who has played in India for over a decade, Beto knows how professional football has struggled from both official and spectator apathy. In that sense he feels the initial steps the ISL has taken have been positive.

“I have never seen the kind of vibe that the ISL is creating. It’s a big plus. Top names want to come. Promotion and publicity have been a success. I believe ISL will come good. It can’t possibly compare with Brazil and Europe (in infrastructure and facilities). But, the players have accepted it. And going forward things will definitely improve.”

While the ISL has seen an impressive start, what it means vis-à-vis I-League has remained ambiguous. Some clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have loaned players to the ISL, but reigning champion Bengaluru FC hasn’t. It has unfortunately led to situation where players like the current National team captain and one of the most popular faces Sunil Chhetri have missed out.

“It’s important to fit everybody in,” Beto says. “The ISL is for the country and we can’t forget the I-league clubs. But we will have to leave it to the organisers and I hope the decision is best for everyone.”

On his own playing career, the 35-year-old, who returned to Dempo last year, said he won’t be playing this year. “Next year will be my last. May be the I-League or ISL. I don’t want people to tell me when to go. I will go out on my own.”

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/i-believe-isl-will-come-good-says-beto/article6553238.ece

Chennaiyin FC destroys Mumbai

It was a tale scripted to perfection. Every change rung in and every tactical switch worked wonders for Chennaiyin FC even as Mumbai City FC didn’t help itself by aggravating the very same problem areas it had rightly identified beforehand.

The end result was a 5-1 rout of Mumbai by Chennai with two goals each from marquee player Elano and John Stiven Mendoza Valencia and one from Jeje Lalpekhlua.

Player-manager Marco Materazzi made four changes — Lalpekhlua replaced Balwant Singh upfront, Shilton Paul manned the goal in place of Gennaro Bracigliano, defender Jairo Andres Suarez Carvajal came in for Dhanachandra Singh and the most inspired of them all, Materazzi played himself instead of Bojan Djordic.

The towering former Italian World Cup winner was positioned in front of the defence in what was a 4-1-2-3 formation, a slightly defensive version of the 4-3-3. He won balls, intercepted play and marshalled his defence to nullify the twin threat of Mumbai’s Nicolas Anelka and Andre Francisco Moritz. The axis of Materazzi-Elano-Mendoza / Lalpekhlua it helped create was the key.

Chennaiyin’s attack was more direct. The super-quick Mendoza ran the channels between the opposing defenders who often found themselves beaten by the aerial balls launched by Elano. After the latter, who was inexplicably left unmarked throughout, scored off a penalty in the ninth minute, Materazzi won the ball near his penalty area, passed to Elano who let a first-time pass fly over the defence. It was neatly bundled into the bottom left corner by Lalpekhlua for the second goal in the 26th minute.

Pattern repeats

It was a pattern that repeated many times, only with varying cast. Twice Shilton cleared the ball beyond the Mumbai defence only for Mendoza to be denied both times.

One such perfectly weighted ball from Harmanjot Khabra was finished off by Mendoza for the fourth goal a minute before halftime.

 Mumbai manager Peter Reid had earlier spoken about Elano’s dead-ball skills. He would have been gutted to have conceded two goals from such set-pieces.

In a sense, the two free-kicks which resulted in the third and fifth goals weren’t Elano’s best efforts.

The first in the 41st minute was a really innocuous one which was fluffed by goalkeeper Subrata Paul and duly tapped in by Mendoza.

The second in the 69th minute was drilled from the left flank which escaped every on-rushing player into the goal.

Throughout, the visiting side could hardly stitch together a promising move. On one rare occasion when Anelka slipped the ball through to Subhash Singh in the first half, Shilton was up to the task.

Only after Materazzi was replaced by Bojan Djordjic in the 58th minute did Mumbai enjoy more possession.

Anelka took a more central role with Andre Moritz behind him. A couple of times Djordjic ventured a bit further than Materazzi had done earlier, letting Mumbai advance a bit. But all that it got was a consolation goal by Syed Rahim Nabi from a corner.

In the last twenty minutes there were darting runs into the opposition half by Elano, Mendoza and Bernard Mendy.

But with five goals already scored these hardly seemed like goal-scoring moves but mere attempts at enjoying themselves.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/chennaiyin-fc-destroys-mumbai/article6542611.ece

Chennaiyin FC needs to regroup

Two games into the Indian Super League (ISL) season, Chennaiyin FC appeared to be on course to becoming a well-rounded unit. For a team assembled at the eleventh hour, two wins out of two seemed a bit rich. Only the much-fancied Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) boasted of a similar record.

However, it was quickly brought down to earth by an impressive Delhi Dynamos side last Saturday and, in the process, was asked some questions. The side will get an opportunity to answer them against Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Tuesday.

Of particular interest will be its set-piece defending, susceptibility to pace and energy on the counter and the ball distribution skills of its three-man defence, each of which came under the scanner against Delhi.

“The set-piece defending was not good,” said Chennaiyin FC assistant coach Vivek Nagul. “We went back to the drawing board and have discussed it. Hopefully, we won’t repeat the mistakes.”

Chennai has so far ridden on the exploits of three talismanic figures — Frenchman Bernard Mendy in defence, captain Bojan Djordjic as a deep-lying playmaker and the Brazilian marquee-signing Elano upfront.

Elano has, in fact, scored three of the team’s five goals and Djordjic has soldiered on remarkably despite being half-fit. The need is to find new stars to complement their efforts.

“We are not over-dependent on Elano,” said Nagul. “Bojan has indeed struggled with his fitness. So we need to take care of him. But, we have a good bench and others will step in.”

For Mumbai, it has been a topsy-turvy start. An emphatic 5-0 victory over FC Pune City was sandwiched between two dispiriting losses.

However, it will be bolstered by French striker Nicolas Anelka’s return from a three-match ban. “Anelka will play,” said coach Peter Reid.

“His training has been first class and he has been very professional.”

How Chennai will repel his attacks remains to be seen even as Nagul talked about “keeping more possession and over-loading the midfield.”

Mumbai has also been plagued by its lack of discipline on the field.

In its previous match against NorthEast United FC, it finished with nine men. “We have made silly fouls and it has cost us. Chennai has Elano whose dead-ball skills are top-notch. The key is to not concede (fouls),” he said.

Of additional concern is the lack of creativity in the final third.

Injury to marquee-signing Freddie Ljungberg, which has seen him play just 30 minutes so far, has certainly not helped while the spark has been missing in Andre Moritz’s absence.

“With a player of Moritz’s quality, you do miss him.

“But, sometimes we need to give credit to the opposition. And so far, we haven’t helped ourselves as well (with the fouls).”

On Tuesday, Mumbai can call upon a fully-fit Moritz, about whom Reid said he had no qualms about lasting 90 minutes. Midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi has also recovered sufficiently.

For Chennai, defender Abhishek Das will miss the game due to an injury he sustained against Kerala Blasters.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/chennaiyin-fc-look-to-bounce-back-against-mumbai/article6538417.ece