Mohammedan SC predicted lineup for ISL 2024-25

The Black Panthers are gearing up for their first-ever ISL season.

Mohammedan SC are the newest entrants to the Indian Super League(ISL) and are poised to make their debut in the 2024-25 campaign. The Black Panthers bring a rich vein of history to the division, being one of the oldest clubs in Indian football and having a big fanbase all over the country.

Mohammedan won their way to the ISL by clinching the I-League title last season and will look to make a positive impact in the division this time around. The Black Panthers have strengthened their squad ahead of the new campaign, bringing in some quality players while also retaining many players who helped them win the I-League last time around.

Mohammedan have roped in a pretty strong foreign core comprising the likes of Alexis Gomez and Joseph Adjei, who impressed last season too. They’ve also brought in a couple of forwards Franca and Cesar Manzoki as well as midfielders Mohammed Kadiri and Mirjalol Kasimov.

On top of that, Andrey Chernyshov is also blessed to have some quality young Indian talents like Amarjit Kiyam, Makan Chothe, and Lalremsanga Fanai. With that being said, here is how Mohammedan SC could shape up in their ISL matches.

Goalkeeper: Padam Chhetri

The Black Panthers no.1 was one of their brightest players in the I-Leauge last season. He kept eight clean sheets in 22 matches, conceding just 18 goals.

Chhetri proved himself as an impressive shot-stopper by showing brilliant reflexes and the ability to move the ball around nicely too. He’s expected to be their primary goalkeeper this season and will need to perform at a high level to help them maintain a sturdy defensive record.

Right-Back: Samad Ali Mallick

Samad Ali Mallick has gotten the honor of being the first Mohammedan SC captain in the ISL and leading them into this new journey.

An experienced, diligent right-back who can neutralize opposition wingers’ threat with his timely challenges, Mallick will look to use his expertise to inspire his side into positive results.

Centre-Back: Joseph Adjei

Adjei will play an important role in the Black Panthers’ backline, needing to maintain a very tight and controlled shape to frustrate opponents.

The 29-year-old center-back will look to use his imposing figure and physicality to bully defenders and also utilize his game-reading skills to make key challenges to avert disaster.

Centre-Back: Gaurav Bora

Bora arrives into the Mohammedan set-up with quite a lot of ISL experience. He’s played for Odisha FC and NorthEast United, having 60 ISL games as experience under his belt.

Bora is quite the proactive, combative centre-back who will look to enjoy his personal best season with the Black Panthers by holding together a stubborn defensive line.

Left-Back: Zodingliana Ralte

Zodingliana Ralte will make his return to the ISL after last playing in the division in 2016. He has played in the competition for the likes of Delhi Dynamos and NorthEast United FC but now comes in for a new team.

After featuring in all 22 matches for the Black Panthers in the I-League last season, Ralte will look to uphold his reputation of being a reliable full-back who is defensively sound and can also provide trouble with his overlapping runs and delivery.

Centre-Midfield: Mirjalol Kasimov

The Black Panthers have done well to hold onto Uzbekistan midfielder Mirjalol Kasimov for their ISL debut. The 28-year-old is a perfect fit for Chernyshov’s system, being a bullish defensive midfielder who can sit ahead of the backline well.

Kasimov will be tasked to add more steel to his backline, make possession recoveries, and quickly get the ball forward to trigger the quick transitions for the forwards.

Centre-Midfield: Amarjit Singh Kiyam

The former India U-17 captain has pretty decent experience under his belt now and will look to push hard for an India senior team spot by excelling in the ISL.

Amarjit is an energetic and aggressive midfielder but needs to use his traits smartly to trouble opposition midfielders. He’ll look to be the Black Panthers’ midfield engine by covering a lot of ground and winning back the ball, but will also need to be creative with his forward passes to stand out from the rest of the domestic midfielders in the squad.

Right-Wing: Rochharzela

The Black Panthers made a major coup in roping in exciting winger Roccharzela to bolster their frontline for the ISL debut. The 26-year-old has four goals in 38 appearances in the ISL but has never really gotten his big chance to shine.

He should get that this time around with Mohammedan and needs to be at his clinical best. Rochharzela has to use his blistering pace and trickery to get into good positions and be spot-on with his delivery as well as shooting to add that extra spark to Mohammedan’s attacking force.

Attacking-Midfield: Alexis Gomez

Argentine star Alexis Gomez will play a key role in Mohammedan troubling opposition sides this season. The 24-year-old is a highly versatile player, being able to play in the wide areas, up-front, or in an attacking midfield role.

He’ll probably be given the utmost freedom in the attacking areas and will play a key role in orchestrating their attacking moves. Gomez had 12 goal contributions (3 goals, 12 assists) for the Black Panthers last season, and will look to use his creative brilliance to set up big chances and torment opposition defenders this season.

Left-Wing: Makan Chothe

Makan Chothe has plenty of ISL experience under his belt with 42 appearances, but it’s with the Black Panthers that he’ll get a prominent role to properly break out as a top talent.

Chothe can be a terrorizing customer with his clever dribbling ability and speed, but needs to amp up his final product to reach that next level. He’ll look to use his unpredictable style to bring something different to Mohammedan’s attack and nail his final deliveries to help them stun opposition backlines.

Forward: Cesar Lobi Manzoki

The Black Panthers have strengthened their frontline with the signing of prolific African striker Cesar Lobi Manzoki. The 27-year-old scored 10 goals in 35 appearances in the Chinese Super League and played in the UAE Pro League last season for Hatta Club.

He comes with quite a lot of experience and is a smart, sturdy forward who can trouble defenders with his movement. Manzoki needs to use his expertise to link up smartly with his teammates and also nail his movement into the box to fool defenders. But the Black Panthers will need Manzoki to be at his ruthless best in finishing chances and helping them pick up wins in their debut ISL campaign.

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