Top five ATK Mohun Bagan players to watch out for against Blue Star SC

The Mariners will look to stamp their authority on the continental stage in front of their fans in Kolkata.

ATK Mohun Bagan will be in action for the first time since their ISL 2021/22 playoff heartbreak against Hyderabad FC in March. Touted as the favourites to lift the title last season, they fell short of turning around a two-goal deficit against the Nizams. COVID cases in the camp and inconsistent performances rounded off a disappointing campaign, as they finished third in the league table, six points behind Owen Coyle's impeccable Jamshedpur FC. In the final game of the league, a Ritwik Das goal sealed the deal.

In a bid to revitalize the dampened spirits of the fans, Juan Ferrando's men take on Blue Star SC on 12th April. The Mariners have been training in Kolkata for the last two weeks. They are set to play at the Salt Lake Stadium for the first time in an attempt to make it their veritable fortress for this campaign.

Ahead of the game, Khel Now identifies five players to watch out for ATK Mohun Bagan against Blue Star SC.

5. Joni Kauko

After donning Finland's white at Euro 2020, Joni Kauko landed in India with a truckload of expectations. Despite struggling for minutes under Ferrando initially, he proved his mettle in the latter stages of the ISL. Hugo Boumous' injury saw him operate in a more adventurous role and he produced impactful performances in vital fixtures.

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The Finnish player had an impressive passing accuracy of 80.22%, took 32 shots and made 62 tackles. He ended the season with three goals and six assists to his name. His link-up play with Indian wingers Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh has been crucial to ATKMB's attack.

Kauko made his debut for the Mariners in the infamous 6-0 rout against Uzbekistan outfit FC Nasaf in this competition. This will boost his hunger to perform in the tournament, in a side that he is now familiar with and plays to his strengths.

4. Kiyan Nassiri

Kiyan Nassiri's story is nothing short of a fairy-tale. Son of East Bengal great Jamshid Nassiri, Kiyan rose up the ranks for Mohun Bagan before signing a contract with ATK Mohun Bagan. His claim to fame came in the Kolkata Derby, when he scored a hat-trick inside just 30 minutes. Adept at making intelligent runs and getting into dangerous spaces, Kiyan is a tricky customer for defences.

His pace also allows Ferrando to deploy him on the flanks. The nation has only had a handful of technically bright centre-forwards over the years and the youngster's journey will be an interesting one to follow.

With the football calendar getting longer this year, players like Kiyan Nassiri can expect to get a lot more minutes. In the recently concluded ISL, he took eight shots and supplied six crosses in just 259 minutes. The 21-year old recently signed a two-year contract extension and will look to reward Ferrando's trust on the pitch. It's time for him to take the next step and find a spot in the XI more frequently.

3. Liston Colaco

Liston Colaco was one of the standout Indian players in ISL 2021/22. He topped the goalscoring charts among Indians and was also the highest scorer for ATK Mohun Bagan, with eight goals. He earned plaudits for his performances last season, spearheading the Mariners' attack in the absence of the injured Roy Krishna.

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Scorer of free-kicks, headers and long-rangers, Colaco seems to pull out something new from his locker in every game. Shifting to the left-wing has allowed him to become more direct in attacks, but his goal conversion rate is a lowly 10%. This showcases how devastating he can be if he finds some composure in front of the goal.

Liston's pace might not be seen much in transitions against Blue Star, as they will be expected to sit in a low block and defend. This, however, suits the coach's philosophy and will help his forwards adapt to possession-based football.

2. Roy Krishna

The Fijian doesn't need much introduction in India's club football circuit. The Golden Ball winner from 2020/21 failed to replicate his exploits this season, largely due to COVID and a hamstring injury. Even so, the 34-year old found the back of the net on seven occasions, while also supplying four assists.

Despite having a generally diminutive stature, Roy Krishna is known to give defenders a hard time physically. He uses his muscular strength, often out-jumping tall centre-backs. Blue Star SC face a tall task in keeping the lethal Krishna quiet on Tuesday.

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1. David Williams

David Williams will play a pivotal role for his side in the AFC Cup this season. The mandatory inclusion of an Asian foreigner in the matchday squads means that he could be starting ahead of Roy Krishna, if Ferrando were to retain his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.

However, it isn't just for this reason that he is a vital cog for ATKMB. He has been one of the most consistent foreigners for the past three seasons, recording 18 goals and nine assists in that period. Williams often drops deep to find his wingers in space, which helps the likes of Colaco and Manvir Singh thrive.

His ability to lead the press and eye for goal make him a lethal option for Ferrando. Having a reputation for firing in knockout games, it won't be a surprise to see him turn up on an important night for the Mariners.

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