Football fans in India are being treated to non-stop action thanks to the Indian Super League (ISL) which is currently taking place. The ISL which usually takes place in different parts of India has been restricted this season to Goa.
ISL franchises have been kept in a bio-bubble in Goa in order to protect players and staff from COVID-19. Games are taking place in empty stadiums as of now but football fans can watch all of the action unfold on TV.
Mumbai City Favorites To Win ISL
Before the ISL season could start, football bettors put down money on top teams like current champions Atlético de Kolkata (ATK) last year’s champions (2018-2019) Bengaluru FC and the previous year’s (2017-2018) champions Chennaiyin FC.
Most football fans were a bit nervous when betting because Indian football players as well as many of the foreign players taking part in the ISL had not been practicing or playing football due to the global COVID-19 lockdown. Most of these players were coming in cold and would take time to warm up.
No one expected Mumbai City to start this ISL season in a dominating fashion. Mumbai City currently sits on top of the ISL points table with 6 points. They have played 3 games so far, lost 1 and won their last two games. Mumbai City impressed greatly in their last game against new franchise SC East Bengal whom they beat 3-0 on 01 December at GMC Stadium in Bambolim.
The win showed football fans and bettors that Mumbai City has the talent and ability to beat the big guns which include ATK and ATK Mohun Bagan. Their betting odds have increased with their win against SC East Bengal.
Robbie Fowler Has Harsh Words For East Bengal
SC East Bengal has had a horrible start to this ISL season. They lost their first game against their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan and were looking to bounce back against Mumbai City. However, East Bengal looked like they were playing school football as they made numerous mistakes especially with their defence.
New head coach Robbie Fowler had some harsh words for his players after their second consecutive defeat in the ISL. Fowler who was coach of the Brisbane Roar franchise in Australia said that his players were made to look like a bunch of amateurs at the GMC Stadium as Mumbai City outplayed them in both defense and offense.
Fowler said he was devastated to see how Mumbai City has performed as they now sit at the bottom of the ISL points table having conceded 5 goals in their two games. It is going to be very difficult for them to rebound and climb the points table. Fowler was harsh on his team and said that a number of Indian players looked like they had never been coached in their life.
East Bengal does not have much time to examine their errors and come up with a match winning solution. Fowler was brought in to take this new ISL franchise and turn them into a potent force and so far he has been unable to do that.
Bio-Bubble Impacting Players?
SC East Bengal is not the only team that has played below par during the ISL. Other teams and many Indian football players have showcased a sub-par game during the ISL so far. It will be up to the head coach of each ISL franchise to figure out whether the drop in performance is due to the lack of fitness and training caused due to the COVID-19 or whether the bio-bubble and restrictions are impacting the players mentally.
We will have to wait and see if the quality of football continues to improve in the coming days or if it drops!
