Three reasons why Anwar Ali is the defender Juan Ferrando wanted at Mohun Bagan

The defender is going to add a lot of value to the side during the upcoming season.

Anwar Ali’s move to Mohun Bagan Super Giant is making a lot of shockwaves in Indian football. The centre-back is one the most promising defenders and a mainstay in the Indian national team. His impressive performances for the Blue Tigers in the recent 2023 Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship are a sign of what is to come in the 2023-24 season ahead. 

Juan Ferrando is particularly going to be a happy man after the Mariners secured Anwar Ali’s services. He joins Mohun Bagan from Delhi FC on loan and will add a lot of value to the 2022-23 Indian Super League Trophy winners. 

The centre-back has a lot of qualities that will benefit the Mariners at multiple levels. As Anwar Ali prepares to start a new chapter in his footballing career, here is a look at the three reasons why he is the defender that Juan Ferrando wanted at Mohun Bagan:

Comfortable with the ball

Juan Ferrando’s gameplay relies upon building from the back. He needs defenders who are comfortable with the ball on their feet and can move the ball in the defensive third under pressure. Anwar Ali has all the qualities that align with what the tactician desires from his defenders.

With Anwar Ali in the heart of defence, MBSG will become better at retaining the ball in their own half and not give away possession cheaply. The defender is brilliant at scanning and identifying unmarked players with his vision.

Squad depth

One of the basic requirements at Mohun Bagan is winning trophies. Hence, being the head coach of the Mariners is a tough job, one that puts a lot of pressure on Juan Ferrando. He must deliver success in his next season with the club despite winning the ISL Trophy in the previous one.

Winning trophies requires an all-round effort from the squad. Anwar Ali’s availability will give Ferrando better options to rotate without losing any quality. As Mohun Bagan embark on challenging for all the trophies on offer such as the Durand Cup, the ISL Shield & Trophy, the AFC Cup and the Hero Super Cup, Ali’s acquisition will certainly help the cause. 

Sensational defender

Anwar Ali is one of the finest Indian defenders, and some sections of the fans might even think that he is the best out there. Having domestic players of high quality is extremely important in the Indian Super League which allows a team to field only four foreigners at a time.

With Ali’s arrival, Juan Ferrando can field more foreign players in the attacking third while keeping a strong defensive setup made up of domestic players. Slavko Damjanovic and Tiri’s departures will also need replacing. This is where Ali’s inclusion into the team is even more vital.

A back-four of Asish Rai, Brendan Hamill, Anwar Ali and Subhasish Bose makes for a brilliant defensive line. This way, Juan Ferrando can field players like Hugo Boumous, Jason Cummings, Armando Sadiku, etc to be more lethal up front and score goals.