'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Attack wins you matches, but defence wins you titles, this famous quote of Sir Alex Ferguson has time and again been proven right. Last season’s Atletico de Kolkata’s success was built on strong defensive displays throughout the tournament which made them such a difficult team to beat.This ISL season has seen a lot more goals and defences have in general had a tougher time dealing with opposition forwards as clean sheets have been quite evenly distributed across all the teams.With the league stage of the ISL having finished, we take a look back at the three best defences in the league. And to no one’s real surprise, all of those teams have made it to the semi-finals of the ISL this season.Here are the three best defenses in the ISL:
#3 Delhi Dynamos - 20 goals conceded
Delhi Dynamos are the only new team in the last four this season and it is pretty much down to a solid defence which Roberto Carlos has managed to put together in Delhi.
The Dynamos have been very hard to beat this season and have only lost four games. Having conceded only twenty goals, the team from the capital are this season’s third-best defence in the league.
This season has seen the meteoric rise of Indian centre-back Anas Edathodika, who has cemented his place at the heart of the Delhi Dynamos defence with some truly wonderful performances. His partnership with former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has received much praise and Anas' rise allowed Roberto Carlos to push Chicao into midfield.
Another player who impressed was right-back Souvik Chakraborty, who was a regular in the Delhi Dynamos defence with the Dynamos actually struggling in his absence recently.
Adinga, primarily a midfielder, was used at left-back in most games by Roberto Carlos and the lad from the Northeast caught everyone’s eye and earned great praise from his manager.
Carlos shuffled his pack quite a lot and the likes of Anwar Ali, Naoba Singh and Chicao also effortlessly slotted into the Dynamos defence when called into action. Delhi's defensive ability makes them a dangerous proposition in the knock-out matches and FC Goa will have to be wary of them despite their recent success against them.
#2 Atletico de Kolkata - 17 goals conceded
The defending champions endured a tough start to the season as Helder Postiga's injury meant Antonio Habas' men struggled for goals upfront. But Atletico de Kolkata’s defence never really let them down and propelled them to a second-place finish.
Spaniard Tiri has been the pick of the defenders in the Atletico side and the young stopper from Spain has caught everyone's eye this season with some inspiring performances at the back. He ensured that Atletico didn’t miss the injured Josemi a lot.
Indian National team defender Arnab Mondal was often seen partnering Tiri and the two of them forged a solid understanding. Rino Anto who was brought for a whopping sum in the ISL auction too pretty much repaid the faith shown in him with top performances at right full-back position.
Augustine Fernandes though was the find of this ISL season and shuffled between the centre-back and left-back roles during the season quite effectively. His goal against Mumbai City FC helped Atletico turn the season around and reach the semi-finals.
With Iain Hume in red hot form and Postiga closing in on a return, Habas will be hoping his defence keeps on doing the job for his defending champions.
#1 Chennaiyin FC - 15 goals conceded
Chennaiyin FC are the meanest defence in the Hero Indian Super League this season, conceding only 15 goals this campaign. Managed by former Italian defender Marco Materazzi, the team are a reflection of their manager and it has been very difficult to score more than one goal against Chennaiyin this campaign.
Led by their skipper Bernard Mendy, the team from Chennai have forged a solid defensive unit with Brazilian Mailson Silva partnering the Frenchman Mendy at the heart of the Super Machas defence. Right-back Mehrajuddin Wadoo has been a revelation this season and is quite possibly the best right-back in the league. Signed from FC Pune City, Wadoo has been one of the most consistent performers in the ISL.
Dhanachandra Singh has made the left-back position his own in the last few games after being in and out of the side in the initial part of the season after being away on international duty. With Mendoza going goal crazy at the other end, Chennaiyin's improved defence has seen them leap to a third-place finish after languishing in the last position not so long ago this season.
