East Bengal team training at the club ground. Image Source: File Pic[/caption]Internet Desk: Big blow to East Bengal from AIFF, 24 hours before the Bengaluru FC clash! East Bengal defender Arnab Mondal has been slammed a two match suspension by AIFF Disciplinary Committee for threatening Cornell Glen. This suspension bans Arnab from participating in the high-voltage Bengaluru FC clash. East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya quoted as saying,” There is no doubt that Arnab is a very important member in our squad but we can’t go beyond AIFF decisions. We will obey to what they have said.”
The question arises now, who is going to partner Bello in absence of Arnab. The Red and Gold gaffer is ready with his Plan A and Plan B. In that case, Bello will be partnered by either Bernard Mendy or Deepak Mondal.
Meanwhile, the Frenchman is fit enough and trained with the whole squad at the Kanteerava Stadium. But still the team management will have one more round of discussion with Mendy before the match that is he fit enough to play. If Mendy gives his thumbs up, then Bello will be partnered by Mendy in the defense. Otherwise, veteran Deepak Mondal will be playing his first match in this year’s I-league.
Arnab’s suspension and Mendy’s injury is not only the issues East Bengal had to face in Bengaluru. Addition to this was East Bengal team manager Alvito D’ Cunha’s spat with Bengaluru FC officials regarding timing of the practice on the main pitch. East Bengal was scheduled to train at the Kanteerava stadium from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. But Bernard Mendy reached there an hour early and started training before the scheduled time. Suddenly, Bengaluru FC team officials rushed into the ground asked Mendy to leave the pitch. The Red and Gold team manager, Alvito had a spat with Bengaluru FC officials regarding this issue. Earlier in the first leg at Barasat, Ashley Westwood, the Bengaluru FC coach had a spat with East Bengal team doctor Dr. Shambo Samrat Samajder and Ashley was blamed by the East Bengal officials of using racist comments to East Bengal team doctor.
On 30th January, 2016, in the first leg at Barasat, East Bengal lost 0-1 Bengaluru FC which was their first defeat in this year’s I-league. Sunil Chhetri was the one to score the solitary goal of the match and broke the heart of millions of Red and Gold lovers. Biswajit Bhattacharya is looking at this match as revenge for the match at Barasat. The gaffer commented, “This is our last lifeline. We won’t get many opportunities. This is a golden chance and we need to grab it with both hands.”
On the other hand, Bengaluru FC’s go to man at the defensive line, John Johnson is suspended in this match after receiving four yellow cards. Even, Kenyan stopper Curtis Osano is also suffering from an injury. It will be interesting to see who Westwood chooses to pair Curtis Osano with in central defense with Ranjam Salam Singh and Keegan Pereira being options.
“Johnson’s an influential, aggressive player. He is strong in the air. But we have played without him before. We will give someone else a chance. We always rotate, we always chop and change. He (Johnson) was on three yellows for a while and we knew it was coming. It is not a problem. We will be fine,” said Ashley Westwood.
Echoing the gaffer’s sentiments was Curtis Osano who will be marshalling the Blues’ back four. “There’s no pressure. It is a normal game of football. We are going to go out and play a good game of football. It is not really do-or-die,” said the Kenyan.
Johnson blow for Bengaluru FC ahead of East Bengal clash
Will Ranti Martins and Co. be able to utilize this opportunity? Even, Ranti Martins is not fully fit as he sustained a slight injury in his hamstring in the Mumbai FC match at Barasat on Tuesday. As Mendy was partnering Ranti in the forward line in the last few matches, now if he plays as a stopper who is going to partner Ranti in the attack, Do-dong-Hyun or Rafiq? In that case, if Rafiq starts with Ranti then Do-dong-Hyun is going to come in as replacement.
Biswajit Bhattacharya had a message for East Bengal supporters ahead of the match. The gaffer signed off saying,” Please be patient and be by our side. We will not let you all down.”
East Bengal probable XI: Barreto(gk), Rahul Bheke, Bello, Mendy/Deepak, Narayan/Saumik, Sanju, Mehtab, Sehnaj, Mama/ Do-dong-Hyun, Rafiq, Ranti
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