By Abhishek Roy, IANS
Ludhiana : Defending champions Mohun Bagan have suffered a big blow before their crucial quarterfinal game on Sunday in the 29th Federation Cup football tournament here as captain Bhaichung Bhutia is down with viral fever for the last two days.
“Bhaichung will be under observation for the next few hours and if he recovers he will play, otherwise Lalawmpuia will take his place in the starting line up,” said Mohun Bagan’s Brazilian coach Carlos Roberto Pereira Da Silva, after the team’s practice session Saturday.
The defending champions are already missing the valuable services of defenders Deepak Mondal and N.S. Manju. Mondal suffered a knee injury during the Nehru Cup and will be operated Sep 20 while Manju also injured himself during the team’s last training session before leaving for Ludhiana.
Mohun Bagan will face Viva Kerala in the quarterfinal and Pereira asserted that even if Bhutia recovers in time, the striker would come in as a replacement only in the second half.
“Even if he recovers, he (Bhutia) won’t be 100 percent fit,” said the 61-year-old Brazilian.
The Kolkata giants had to toil hard for their 2-1 win over minnows Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in the first round.
“ONGC really played well. But now if we have to qualify for the semi-finals we have to play exceptionally well. We have to use our flanks really well and both Habibur (Mondal) and Rauf (Khan) have to keep switching their positions,” said Pereira.
Mohun Bagan strikers Jose Ramires Barreto and Bhutia had a tough time against ONGC and Pereira feels that Viva will also have a defensive strategy against the defending champions.
“Viva Kerala will play a defensive game and we have to play more passing game. Both Bhaichung and Barreto are not tall so we can’t rely on long balls and have to depend on accurate passing,” said Pereira.
“We are a good team and everyone wants to beat us and I think we will put up a better show than the first round,” said Pereira.
The coach added that James Singh will replace Lalkamal Bhowmick in the starting line-up.