Have Gerard Zaragoza’s recent tactical tweaks disrupted Bengaluru FC's form?

The Blues are winless in their last two games after their flying start this season.

Despite a promising start to the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season, head coach Gerard Zaragoza and Bengaluru FC are now experiencing an uncharacteristic slump. The Blues have failed to secure a win in their last two league matches. 

After getting outplayed in their 3-0 loss to FC Goa in match week 7, Bengaluru only managed to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against NorthEast United in week 8. The recent results have raised questions about coach Zaragoza’s recent tactical changes and personnel selection.

While the reasons behind these rotations would have been to evolve Bengaluru’s playing style, the results from the last two games are signs of concern.

The Poojary injury hurt Gerard Zaragoza’s Blues

The Spaniard, known for his proactive and flexible approach, has been experimenting with a hybrid system that transitions between a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2 in attack and a 3-4-2-1 in defense. While such fluidity aims to outsmart opposition tactics, the team’s recent results showcase that changes in personnel particularly in positions have led to the disciplined unit looking off balance.

The injury to Nikhil Poojary against the Kerala Blasters FC during the team’s 3-1 win at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi was the starting point. Before his absence against FC Goa, the Blues didn’t concede a single goal in their first five ISL games. The deployment of Chinglensana Singh as a makeshift option hasn’t worked out well for the Spaniard till now.

The absence of Vinith Venkatesh from the starting 11

One significant change has been the absence of Vinith Venkatesh, a naturally attacking and exciting player, in the Blues’ last two games. The 19-year-old winger has shown a lot of quality and attacking vigor for Bengaluru this season. However, his last appearance came against Kerala Blasters FC in match week 6 and he hasn’t played a single minute since that game. 

In the 3-0 loss against FC Goa, while the Blues looked vulnerable in defense, the selection of Rohit Danu over Venkatesh was perplexing. While the Islanders’ high press forced turnovers in dangerous areas, the Blues could have used Venkatesh’s intensity to do a similar job for the team. 

Against NorthEast United trailing 2-1 at half-time, Zaragoza could have opted to bring Venkatesh to bring some much-needed attacking push in the second half. While Ryan Williams’ 70th-minute Equalizer bailed Zaragoza blushes against the Highlanders, the Spaniard would be looking for young Venkatesh’s number in the next game.

ALSO READ: Gerard Zaragoza heaps praise on Mohammed Salah ahead of Mohammedan SC clash in ISL

Overlapping fullbacks are leaving Bengaluru FC vulnerable

The Spaniard has also emphasized pushing his fullbacks like Naorem Roshan Singh higher up the field. While it is a high-risk-high-reward strategy, the move in the absence of Nikhil Poojary has left Bengaluru susceptible to counterattacks.

Against FC Goa, all 3 goals came from defensive lapses and quick transitions by opponents after a turnover of possession in the midfield. The advanced fullbacks were not helpful in these situations for Bengaluru’s defense and put them under immense pressure.

While this tactic creates width in attack, the lack of cover on the flanks has repeatedly been a problem for the Blues. While Roshan has been vital to Bengaluru’s forays on the left wing, he doesn’t have an equally complementary full-back who can provide defensive cover on the right.

Rotations in the Forward Line

While Bengaluru has been good in attack, goals from forwards like Sunil Chhetri, Jorge Pereyra-Diaz, and Sivasakthi Narayanan have dried up. In the last two matches, coach Zaragoza hasn’t been able to extract the best out of Chhetri. The Spaniard has relied too much on rotating his squad and has not fielded a consistent attack after each game. 

Edgar Mendez’s form would have been an encouraging sign for the Spaniard’s head coach, however, the last two games have upset that goal-scoring form as well. While his approach added dynamism, it disrupted the chemistry that Bengaluru’s attack was starting to build after some impressive results. The Blues’ attack will play a key role in the upcoming games, and Zaragoza will be looking to find some consistency in the next few match weeks. 

Player Reactions and Tactical Adaptation

While the players have publicly backed Zaragoza’s methods, the body language on the pitch suggests that the team is still adapting to his tactics and physical demands.

While the Blues goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has kept the most clean sheets in the league this season, he has been exposed far too often in the last two games. An example of this would be FC Goa’s second goal in the 72nd minute in match week 7. Sandhu was forced into a mistake after being pressured by Sadiku, leading to Brison Fernandes’ sumptuous chip over the goalkeeper from 24 yards.

The younger players, however, have shown glimpses of thriving in Zaragoza’s system. Vinith Venkatesh and Sivasakthi Narayanan’s energy and movement have been bright spots, while Roshan Singh continues to be a creative outlet on the left flank. Despite these positives, the recent results prove that the team is still a work in process despite currently sitting at the top of the ISL standings.

What’s next for Gerard Zaragoza and his Blues?

The Spaniard will view the upcoming match weeks as crucial encounters to work out these issues before the business end of the season. Bengaluru has a mixed yet challenging run of fixtures, that includes matches against Mohammedan SC, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters FC, and a rubber match against FC Goa. Coach Zaragoza will be looking forward to another opportunity to outfox fellow Spaniard, FC Goa, and India head coach Manolo Marquez.

Looking towards steadying the ship, Zaragoza might need to balance his ambitious tactical ideas and the pragmatic approach that has historically brought Bengaluru success.

Our 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐬 are on the prowl, as they square up to The Black Panthers at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. Let’s do this! 🔵⚔️#WeAreBFC #MSCBFC #ನೀಲಿಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ pic.twitter.com/Se3s5Tyj8D

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) November 26, 2024

Bengaluru FC’s rich history in Indian football has been built on resilience and adaptability. While Zaragoza’s tactical changes have momentarily disrupted the team’s rhythm, the quality within the squad is undeniable.

As the matches continue to tick over, it remains to be seen whether Zaragoza can integrate his tactical innovations and deliver the results the club and the West Block Blues demand. The Blues currently stand at a crossroads, with the next few weeks likely to dictate where they end up at the end of their season.

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