Three Mohun Bagan players who have improved most under Jose Molina

Jose Molina’s Mohun Bagan are looking to grab the top spot in the points table.

Mohun Bagan have strongly recovered from a shaky start to the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season and strongly hold the second place in the table heading into the fixtures after the November break.

Jose Molina has been forced to make tweaks to his system to get the best out of his players. His decision to revert from an initial three-man backline to a simpler 4-2-3-1 formation has positively reflected on his players’ performances and allowed them to win three of their four matches since the 3-0 battering from Bengaluru FC.

The Spanish gaffer has installed a possession-heavy style that emphasizes quick ball retention and using wing-play proficiently. Molina’s approach has particularly had a positive impact on a few domestic players on the squad, who are arguably playing much better than they did last season – at least in the early stages of the campaign. Here we look at the Mohun Bagan players to have improved the most under Molina.

3. Manvir Singh

As he’s getting to play in a proper right winger role under Molina’s system, Manvir Singh is getting more leeway in being a little bit more adventurous going forward. He doesn’t have to think about defensive responsibilities as much as he did when playing as a wing-back and can focus more on pressing forward.

Manvir has already scored two goals in six games this season after managing three in the entirety of the ISL league campaign last time around. He’s proving to be an efficient set-piece threat, with one of his two goals coming from a set-piece.

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The 29-year-old has been able to powerize his attacking skills more under Molina. He’s being more of a threat with his surging forward runs through the right, delivering some nice crosses and helping his side dominate things on his side. Of course, he still needs to amp up his final product, but Manvir has shown prominent signs of improvement under this new system.

2. Anirudh Thapa

Anirudh Thapa had his share of issues in his debut season for Mohun Bagan, mostly because he was a bit shortstaffed in midfield. The 26-year-old was often deployed in a defensive midfielder role, where he struggled to neutralize opposition midfielders or properly protect his backline.

But under Molina’s new formation, he is getting more traction and support in midfield. He has started four games in the ISL so far this season and looked very sharp in a partnership with Lalengmawia Ralte. Thanks to Apuia’s energetic presence and defensive qualities, Thapa isn’t overburdened to win all the battles in midfield.

He is being able to play more as a controller in terms of moving the ball forward swiftly and helping with the quick transitions from defence into attack. In seven games this season, he has created 11 goal-scoring chances this season after only managing 19 in 23 games in the previous campaign – getting one assist this time around as compared to zero last season.

Jose Molina is giving him more encouragement to show off his creative ability and be the link between defence and attack, allowing Thapa to perform to his best again.

1. Asish Rai

Asish Rai has become an undisputed right-back in Molina’s system and has played 90 minutes in all seven of their ISL matches so far this season. In comparison, he only started nine games in the ISL league campaign last time out. Rai is more comfortable in his natural right-back role, where he doesn’t have to cover as much space as a wing-back normally does.

He’s helped the Mariners keep two clean sheets, being a defensive rock on the right wing. Rai has already won 34 duels, won 13 tackles and made 29 possession recoveries as well as 14 interceptions.

He’s also averaging 44 passes per game, being heavily involved in helping kick-start moves from his own half and getting the ball forward quicker. Rai is much more proactive and aggressive in Molina’s system and is greatly benefiting from his playing style.

Even though he’d like to improve his attacking product going forward, Rai has become a pivotal part of Molina’s system at Mohun Bagan, being able to showcase his defensive skills perfectly.

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