“Borja stitches a perfect through pass for the speedy Sameehg Doutie on the right to spread the play. Two yellow shirts try to impede the run of the South African but it goes in vain. Some of the hands in the stands go up in despair and a few sighs are heard - if only Josu was here!”
This can be the opening line of the match reports tonight as Kerala Blasters FC take on Atletico de Kolkata in the final of the Hero Indian Super League 2016.
The faces remain the same but the loyalties have switched. Mohammed Rafi and Mohammad Rafique will turn up for the home side, whereas Iain Hume and Stephen Pearson will don the Atletico colours. This would provide the much-needed fillip to the anticipation building around the finals. But what would be missing from the Kerala side is their mercurial player Josu. The versatile Spaniard picked up a booking in the semi-finals and will not play a part tonight.
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There is no dearth of talent in Steve Coppell’s side. From defence to offence, the British coach has got his team covered abundantly. But, the absence of Josu might just expose that slight chink in the armour which would undo their chances.
Free kick specialist and possible goal scoring option - Josu’s repertoire boasts of umpteen skills which make him a unique prospect. His goalscoring prowess instils confidence in the team. His defensive abilities on the left flank impart the cover in the channels.
Josu has one goal, six assists and 18 shots on goal in this edition of the ISL. This stat proves the contribution of the Spaniard in the attacking department. Being a product of the La Masia academy of FC Barcelona, the Spaniard possesses the ethos of a free flowing game. His astute passing has helped his side in building up the attack from defence. In the final, this quality would be amiss in the defensive setup deployed by coach Coppell.
Originally a midfielder, Josu has been used in a variety of positions by the coach. However, that has not affected his performance on the field and he has continued to impress in all the positions he was asked to fill. His consistency led him to be retained by the Blasters for his second stint in the ISL.
In the defensive front, the Spanish player provides the perfect combination of age and experience. With Cedric Hengbart and Aaron Hughes being the wise old men at the back, Josu added the youthful dynamism in the wings. The composure exhibited by the 23-year old would be hard to match tonight. His ball play and stronghold on possession provided the edge to the Kerala side in tight situations.
Being a Barcelona youth product, expectations were huge from the diminutive midfielder. Josu did not disappoint as he seamlessly moved around the field with admirable precision. From left back to the number 10 position, he was ubiquitous in all the appearances. He played as the playmaker in his spell in Finland, but in Spain, he was deployed as a left-back.
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Till date, the defensive lineup of Josu, Sandesh Jhingan, Hengbart and Hughes conceded the least number of goals in the ISL 2016. The calm heads ensured a stoical approach in difficult situations and the opposition found it hard to break the deadlock. The Spaniard’s absence in the defence will leave a gaping hole that coach Coppell needs to plug.
Another major factor going to plague the Kerala Blasters will certainly be the lack of a deadball specialist. Josu’s clinical freekicks have often lead to numerous goalscoring opportunities. Without him, chances would have to be created from the run of the play. Corners and freekicks will definitely lose their teeth in the absence of the 23-year old ex-Espanyol man.
Overall, it will be an even contest when the 2014 finalists meet tonight at Kochi. The Kerala fans need not be tetchy as Steve Coppell will definitely take measures to bolster his side, nevertheless, the 60,000 odd fans would be anxious to see their team lift the trophy this time. It will be a hard battle and neither of the two teams would hold back for extra time. Kerala would have sour memories of the same from the previous time these two met in the finals.
Consequently, they would aim to break free and hit the opposition on the break. Playing in front of their fans, the home side will have an added advantage as the fans play like their 12th man. It remains to be seen if Atletico de Kolkata can withstand the pressure and come out on top in the den of the Kerala Blasters.
