Indian Super League 2020/21: Jamshedpur FC vs Chennaiyin FC – tactical analysis

The exhilarating and enthralling fixture would have been much more exciting if the fans were allowed inside the stadium as Owen Coyle faced his former club, Chennaiyin FC. Owen Coyle took the Marina Machans from the last position to the final of the Indian Super League 2019/20, however, shifted his base to the steel City for the 2020/21 campaign. Owen Coyle wasn’t the only personality to shift his base, he took along with him 2019/20’s Golden Boot winner as well as the exuberant Laldinliana Renthlei to Jamshedpur FC.

The game was as exciting as the fixture sounded with both the teams trying to get the breakthrough in early minutes. Anirudh Thapa scored within a minute for Chennaiyin FC, becoming the first Indian scorer for the 2020/21 campaign.

In this tactical analysis, we will discuss the tactics of both the managers and the intricacies of the game. This analysis will also dive into the details of why Jamshedpur lost the game against the Marina Machans.

Line-ups

Owen Coyle, the former Burnley gaffer, started with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Rehenesh TP was protected by Landinliana Renthlei, Stephen Eze, Peter Hartley, and the young Sandip Mandi. Aitor Monroy and Jitendra Singh manned the midfield. The front four consisted of Jackichand Singh, Alex Lima, Isaac Vanmalsawma, and the dangerous Nerijus Valskis.

Chennaiyins formation on paper read 4-3-3, however, the Marina Machans played with a 4-1-3-2 with Isma and Jakub Sylvestr leading the attack. The second line of attack looked interesting with Anirudh Thapa shifting to the right-wing. Rafael Crivellaro played as the attacking midfielder and Lallianzuala Chhangte in his usual position. Deepak Tangri acted as the screen in front of Reagan Singh, Eli Sabiá, Enes Sipović, and Chhuantea Fanai. Vishal Kaith positioned himself in between the sticks.

Jamshedpur’s press in the final third and Chennaiyin’s build-up

Chennaiyin hardly built-up from the back but on a few occasions when the Marina Machans did build-up from the back, Jamshedpur pressed them high. The pressing structure was mainly man-oriented with the striker, Valskis, and the CAM, Lima pressed the two Chennaiyin centre-backs. Lima initially positioned nearer to the opposition pivot but when one Chennaiyin centre-back passed the ball to another, the pressing was triggered and Lima quickly moved up to aggressively press the centre-back keeping the pivot in the cover shadow as well as forcing the build-up towards the flanks.