The newly merged entity, ATK Mohun Bagan FC, who will represent Mohun Bagan’s legacy and ATK’s ISL success in their debut Indian Super League (ISL) campaign will go into the league as prime favourites.
Retaining the core of 2019-20 champions ATK for the upcoming season, Antonio Lopez Habas’ side will be expected to go all guns blazing again and win another ISL title.
ATK Mohun Bagan FC key players
Roy Krishna: Roy Krishna was tied with Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis in the 2019-20 season for the most number of goals scored. The Fijian forward netted 15 goals in 21 games, in addition to providing six assists.
Krishna’s incredible goalscoring ratio was one of the prime reasons behind ATK’s 2019-20 title-winning run. He is extremely quick to pounce on loose balls, wriggle past defenders and score. His striking prowess will again be pivotal for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 2020-21 Indian Super League campaign.
David Williams: Roy Krishna’s strike partner, Australian forward David Williams will be key to ATK Mohun Bagan’s chances in the ISL 2020-21 as well. Williams scored seven goals and provided five assists in 18 ISL games.
He generally acts as a secondary striker or a typical false number nine to create an illusion of a two-striker formation. Williams can also play out wide, thus adding to his versatility.
Sandesh Jhingan: After an intense transfer battle with ISL’s biggest and richest clubs like Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, SC East Bengal and Odisha FC, the former Kerala Blasters defenders finally signed for ATK Mohun Bagan after months of deliberation.
Sandesh Jhingan will partner Jose Luis Espinosa Arroyo, also known as Tiri in central defence. He will face a unique challenge at ATK Mohun Bagan due to Antonio Habas’ conventional three-man defence. His aerial abilities can be useful in set-piece situations.
ATK Mohun Bagan FC probable line-up
(3-5-2): Arindam Bhattacharya, Tiri, Sandesh Jhingan, Pritam Kotal, Pronay Haldar, Edu Garcia, Javi Hernandez, Michael Soosairaj, Prabir Das, Roy Krishna, David Williams
ATK Mohun Bagan FC full squad
Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Arsh Shaikh, Aryan Lamba, Avilash Paul, Dheeraj Singh
Defenders: Tiri, Prabir Das, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Sumit Rathi, Subhasish Bose
Midfielders: Boris Singh, Bradden Inman, Carl McHugh, Edu Garcia, Javier Hernandez, Glan Martins, Jayesh Rane, Michael Soosairaj, Pronay Haldar, Regin Michael, Seikh Sahil, Engson Singh
Forwards: David Williams, Jobby Justin, Manvir Singh, Roy Krishna, Md Fardin Ali Molla
Head Coach: Antonio Lopez Habas
ATK Mohun Bagan FC fixtures (Till Round 10)
20th November – Kerala Blasters vs ATK Mohun Bagan
27th November – SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan
03rd December – ATK Mohun Bagan vs Odisha FC
07th December – Jamshedpur FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan
11th December – ATK Mohun Bagan vs Hyderabad FC
16th December – ATK Mohun Bagan vs FC Goa
21st December – ATK Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru FC
29th December – Chennaiyin FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan
03rd January – ATK Mohun Bagan vs NorthEast United
11th January – ATK Mohun Bagan vs Mumbai City FC
ATK Mohun Bagan FC season prediction
ATK Mohun Bagan have retained the core of their squad, and with few additions like Bradden Inman, Sandesh Jhingan and Tiri, the Mariners look stronger than ever for a new season. The 2019-20 champions are expected to do well and finish top of the league table.
ATK Mohun Bagan FC Predicted Finish: 1st
Also Read: Bengaluru FC season preview, full squad, fixtures and more: ISL 2020-21