Akbar Nawas and his support staff
Akbar Nawas has instilled his calming influence on the players. He believes in the Pep Guardiola's possession-based football and makes his team play in the exact manner. Chennai City's play is building attacks from the back with their goalkeeper being a very good ball distributor. The 4-2-3-1 system keeps on fluctuating to 3-4-3 during attacks. With the full-backs coming inside to the midfield region and the defensive midfielder falls back to create a triangle of 3-men defense. This has led to his right-back, Edwin Vanspaul providing 5 assists. The management did extremely well to recruit foreigners who can execute Nawas's system. Even during pressure situations the Lions seem to play from back keeping the ball in possession. The average possession kept by Chennai City in the 12 games is 62% with the highest being against Real Kashmir, 78%, in the losing cause. They are even termed as the 'comeback kings' due to the recent comebacks against Gokulam FC and East Bengal F.C..
Will the Lions do another Leicester City? It's for the time to tell.