Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Tonight match between Delhi Dynamos FC and Atlético de Kolkata promises to be a high octane one. Table-toppers Delhi Dynamos are on a roll with three outstanding wins on the trot, and Atletico de Kolkata happens to be the only club that has inflicted a defeat on them in the 2016 Indian Super League. The match, which is the sixth home game for the Lions, will be played under lights at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
In the first leg of the contest between the two sides this season, Atletico de Kolkata overcame Delhi Dynamos by a 1-0 margin via an Iain Hume penalty at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata. Known for his tactical shrewdness, Delhi Dynamos Head Coach Gianluca Zambrotta would be expected to level terms against Atletico de Kolkata in the next game and avenge the loss in front of the home fans.
The coach knows that this will be a tough test for his team. “The last match against Atlético de Kolkata was a good match and we lost against a very good team. This is a special motive for us to focus against this team because this was the only match we’ve lost thus far. We need to concentrate and work hard against Kolkata,” Zambrotta said at the pre-match press conference.
Talking about the strengths of the opponents, Zambrotta added, “Atlético de Kolkata is one of the best teams in the competition and we have to respect them. They have some very good players and are a quality unit. I have told our team that this is one the most important match for us.”
In their last game against reigning champions Chennaiyin FC, the Dynamos came up with an enthralling display of attacking football and defeated Marco Materazzi’s men 4-1. The destroyer-in-chief for the Lions was Florent Malouda, who led his team from the front, scoring two goals and assisting the other two.
Brazilian Marcelinho, having scored 5 goals in the league, is currently the joint top scorer in the ISL this season. The attacking winger has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Delhi side and would be itching to have a crack at the José Molina side in his bid to become the solo leader of the goalscorers pack.
Speaking on the performance of Malouda and Marcelinho in the Indian Super League this season, Zambrotta said, “Both Malouda and Marcelinho have done a very good job for us in all the matches, as have the others. In fact, I’m really happy and satisfied with the way the entire team is playing. But we need to work stronger day by day to get better.”
In the game against Chennaiyin FC, Zambrotta started with a strong line-up. With the Delhi supporters cheering from the stands, the home team played with attacking valour and defensive strictness. The home side got the first goal of the game in the 15th minute, with Ghanaian striker Richard Gadze scoring from a Florent Malouda assist. The captain, then, took the center-stage. He scored his first-ever ISL goal in the 25th minute with a Messi-esque finish. Latching onto a pass from Richard Gadze just outside the 18-yard box, the left-footed midfielder finish with a low, neat one-touch finish. Being part of every attack for the Delhi Dynamos, the former Chelsea winger played with a lot of attacking prowess and was the lynchpin for the Lions. He scored two goals, with a Kean Lewis goal sandwiched in-between.
The captain highlighted the team’s ambitions at the post-match press conference after the Chennaiyin game, saying, “I think this is the best performance this season collectively and individually because of the result. But I feel the best is yet to come. I hope that at the end of the season I’ll be able to say that this was a successful experience. The difference between a good team and the champion is the title.”
Gianluca Zambrotta, known for mixing up things every match, started with the same line-up for the first time in the league. The Italian’s rotational policy has given him enough freedom to change his squad according to the need, and has used a lot of the squad at his disposal. With the return of Alwyn George and Malsawmzuala from Bengaluru FC, the team has only grown stronger. He had reiterated the need to continue in the same vein after the previous match. On the injury scares for Chinglesana and Richard Gadze in the last game, Zambrotta said, “We are waiting for an update from the medical department on them and are hoping that they would be available. They are very important for us. In case they are not available, we don’t want to change the strategy and the system of play.”
The dominating display against Chennaiyin FC saw the Lions deservingly rise to the top of the table. The team has continued its dominating style of play, controlling the proceedings and creating chances at will. The Lions have aggregated 16 points off 9 games, scoring 16 goals thus far and 8 goals in the last three games.
Delhi Dynamos would be expected to continue the momentum and look to stamp their authority with the fourth victory on trot. With the forward line linking-up brilliantly and looking in ominous form against opposition defenders, another good outing for the players would ensure the team’s continuous presence at the top of the league table.
