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Toppers of the league stage last year, Chennaiyin FC have found the going tough this season so far. The team from Tamil Nadu are struggling to finish in the top 4 at the moment and have not been the same side as last year.
What has gone wrong this season?
They strengthened their squad with the additions of a certain Fikru Teferra, who was the star for last year's champions Atletico de Kolkata. Edel Bete was also an important addition, as the Armenian stopper has proved over Chennaiyin's first 9 games this season.
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Marco Materazzi stressed on the importance of Chennaiyin's month-long pre-season training camp in Perugia, Italy, attributing the injuries to Elano and Stiven Mendoza last season to the lack of enough preparation time, as Chennaiyin were the last franchise to be formed last year.
But that being said, 10 points from 10 games is not the start that the Italian would have been hoping for. Chennaiyin's lack of wins can largely be attributed to a genuine lack of discipline. They have conceded 8 penalties, of which 5 have been converted.
They have also received the most red cards in the tournament, with Harmanjot Khabra receiving 2 - one of which was for a horrendous tackle on Leo Moura of FC Goa.
Positives from the season so far
Chennai's three wins so far can largely be attributed to the form of John Stiven Mendoza. The Colombian has 6 goals so far, a feat for which he shares the top scorer’s spot with Sunil Chhetri of Mumbai City FC.
Elano has played his part as well. The Brazilian has contributed three goals and three assists so far but the franchise’s marquee player has not been at his lethal best, especially from his famed set-pieces.
One major cause for concern for Materazzi has been his over-reliance on the two South Americans, who have scored all but two of Chennaiyin's goals so far.
One other positive has been Jayesh Rane's form this season. The young Mumbaikar has been complementing Elano and Mendoza brilliantly and has been a player that Materazzi has been able to rely upon.
His importance was exemplified in Chennaiyin's game against Goa, which he missed due to an ankle injury. Chennaiyin lacked penetration as both Elano and Mendoza were well marshalled by Goa's defenders.
Changes needed to make the top 4
Like last year's tournament, the defense has been Chennaiyin's achilles heel again. In spite of the fabulous form of their goalkeepers Edel and Karanjit Singh, Chennaiyin have conceded 14 goals so far, something about which Materazzi has been vocally disappointed so far.
Chennaiyin have got four games remaining, out of which three are at home - where they have traditionally done well. If they are to harbour ambitions of making the playoffs, it is imperative that their defense holds firm.
Also, opposition managers have come to the conclusion that stopping Elano and Mendoza would equate to stopping Chennaiyin.
The big Ethiopian, Fikru has not come to his own yet, and if that happens, it takes a lot of pressure off the shoulders of the two South Americans. It is very important for the Chennai outfit that the Indian forwards start pulling their weight going forward so that it helps lessen the burden on their main players, Mendoza and Elano.
Materazzi is someone who has experienced this league before, and heading into the home stretch of the league phase this season, that experience could come in absolutely vital. The Italian’s decision to not play in this season’s matches could be something that he might be forced to re-think in order to ensure that the team becomes defensively more solid.
The former Inter Milan centre-back will definitely add some structure and order to their existing defence and help solidify their play in general.
With great support at their home ground, Chennaiyin will get all the backing they need in their remaining home matches to try and win all three of them. Materazzi will have to get his team in the right frame of mind so that their focus is not diverted by anything.
The last defeat to NorthEast United was definitely a big blow as the team would have looked at that fixture as one where they should have secured all three points and the fact that they couldn’t was a setback.
If the team get their act together, they should be able to make the top 4 as it is too talented an attacking outfit to lose out on qualification.
