Three ways in which Anirudh Thapa will help Mohun Bagan

Anirudh Thapa will be leading the Mohun Bagan midfield.

Anirudh Thapa was recently unveiled as Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s major domestic signing ahead of the 2023-24 Indian Super League season. After spending the last seven years with Chennaiyin FC, the India international has decided to take his services to the Kolkata giants and help them compete for major honors.

Despite his age, the 25-year-old is already a highly experienced figure in Indian football – with nearly 50 caps for the Blue Tigers. He’s made over 100 appearances in the ISL and proven himself as a versatile, hard-working, creative threat. After being given the reputed #7 shirt, Thapa is expected to be slotted right into the starting XI immediately.

The AIFF Elite Academy product possesses certain skills in his arsenal that no other Indian midfielder does at Mohun Bagan. He’ll be like a breath of fresh air for Juan Ferrando’s side and can greatly aid their hunt for the ISL or even the AFC Cup title next season. With that being said, let’s look at three ways in which Anirudh Thapa can help the Mariners.

3. Improve Mohun Bagan’s set-piece efficiency

Last season, the Mariners had to rely upon their No. 9, Dimitri Petratos, to assume their set-piece responsibilities. This was a bizarre one considering that forwards rarely take indirect set-pieces for teams. While Petratos did a great job with his delivery, racking up many assists from his set-pieces, he should ideally be on the receiving end of the free-kicks and corners. With Thapa’s introduction, that can be set into place.

The 25-year-old midfielder is an expert set-piece taker, showcasing amazing accuracy with his delivery from corners and indirect free-kicks. He has proven that with his heroics for India over the Hero International Cup and SAFF Championship, creating many chances from set-pieces. Thapa will be an added creative threat for Ferrando next season and can wrack up many assists with his brilliant set-piece delivery, helping the Mariners score more goals as well.

2. Help Mohun Bagan control games better

The Kolkata giants were able to dominate possession in the majority of matches last season, but it often ended up being quite scrappy and them being unable to really impose their authority into games. Ferrando realized he needs midfielders who can help the side truly dictate the tempo of matches and that’s why he roped in Thapa. The India international is a master at helping his side control games with great efficiency. He averaged over 41 passes per game for Chennaiyin last season in the ISL with a passing accuracy of 75.41%.

Thapa is blessed with a varied passing ability, being able to link up with short passes or even fling the ball from one side to the other with excellent long-passing ability. He has that ‘cutting-edge’ style in him, meaning Thapa can not only help the Mariners dominate possession – but also progress the ball forward with his excellent defence-splitting passes. He should enable Mohun Bagan to play more free-flowing, clinical attacking football next season and improve their progression from midfield into the attack.

1. Increase Mohun Bagan’s goal output from midfield

Juan Ferrando’s side was too dependent on their forwards to deliver the goods last season. Petratos, in particular, contributed 19 of their 26 goals in the ISL. The Spanish manager clearly wants a better variety to his goal-scorers and more goals from midfield. Fortunately for him, Thapa’s inclusion can ensure exactly that. The 25-year-old is not only an impressive figure from a deeper role, but can also deliver in the final third. Indeed, alongside his impressive passing ability, Thapa also possesses a smart understanding of making clever runs into the final third.

He is an impressive finisher, who gets into open spaces inside the box and scores goals out of nowhere. He also boasts impressive long-range shooting ability and deft finishing. The 26-year-old isn’t monotonic like most of Mohun Bagan’s current midfielders, who are more willing to sit deep in midfield and just look to win back possession before moving it to more creative players. Thapa scored two goals in the ISL last season, but with more quality players around him and with freedom on his side, he should contribute multiple goals and bring more variety to the Mariners’ attacking style.