Mohun Bagan Super Giant suffered a setback ahead of the Kolkata derby as midfielder Anirudh Thapa suffered an injury on Wednesday morning, making him doubtful for the January 11 match.
Sportstar understands the 26-year-old attempted a backheel during a training session and injured his right foot in the process, leaving the pitch early. The club has not provided an update on the injury as it is awaiting analyzes scheduled for later in the evening.
Thapa, the former captain of Chennaiyin FC, joined Mohun Bagan in June 2023 and made 50 appearances for the club, scoring four goals and providing two assists. He had started in the Mariners’ last two matches, with the Kolkata-based team winning both.
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Thapa’s injury would add to Mohun Bagan coach Jose Molina’s concerns with the team also missing injured winger Ashique Kuruniyan for the derby in Guwahati.
Meanwhile, East Bengal will miss the services of Saul Crespo against Mohun Bagan after the midfielder injured his left hamstring against Chennaiyin FC on January 7.
Crespo’s injury follows the loss of East Bengal’s French midfielder Madih Talal for the season due to an ACL injury.
East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon has confirmed that his team will be without Crespo for almost a month.
” In great shape ? No, it can’t be for four weeks. He started jogging last week, so it’s going to take some time,” Bruzon said.
“We have Jeakson (Singh) and Souvik (Chakrabarti) – as midfielders – obviously, depending on the opponents – whether we need to be more defensive or whether we need to go more attacking.”
The Red and Gold Brigade looked promising under their new coach, but since Crespo’s injury they have lost twice in the last five matches, compared to none in the previous five.
Bruzon’s schedule indicates that Crespo could only be back just before the return clash against Chennaiyin FC or the one against Mohammedan Sporting next month.
“They (the current midfielders) are good players but it is true that they are much better when they have a foreigner next to them,” added Bruzon.
Saul Crespo during a Durand Cup match. | Photo credit: DEBASISH BHADURI/The Hindu
Saul Crespo during a Durand Cup match. | Photo credit: DEBASISH BHADURI/The Hindu
Crespo, who joined East Bengal in 2023, after winning the Super Cup with Odisha FC, has 10 goals and two assists for the club so far and has played more in a defensive rather than attacking role under Bruzon .
“Saul is a key player for us. There is no doubt about it, especially when you want to dominate, play in the opponent’s half and control matches. But we don’t have it,” Bruzon sighed.
“So we are trying to find solutions. Every game it seems like we can’t find consistency in midfield.
East Bengal have never beaten Mohun Bagan in the Indian Super League, having lost eight of nine clashes and drawn the last in the competition.
Without Crespo and with a depleted team, Bruzon hopes to defy the odds and break the duck in his first Calcutta derby, miles from the city of joy.
