I-League: Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal – Combined XI for the big Kolkata derby

Ahead of Sunday’s big Kolkata derby between Mohun Bagan (MB) and East Bengal (EB), Sportskeeda picks a combined eleven. While selecting the team, the rule of having four foreigners in the lineup has been followed. Both overall quality and current form has been considered for each position.

Formation: 4-1-3-2

Goalkeeper: Shilton Paul (MB)

East Bengal have the stronger squad on paper but the goalkeeping department is a weak link. Mohun Bagan too have had problems in that position in recent years and the signing of last season’s best goalkeeper Sandip Nandy looked to have solved that. But Nandy’s arrival has seen Shilton raise his game as he has become first choice. Nandy would need something special to get his place back in the team as for now Shilton looks to be in the form of his life which also earned him a place among the India standbys for the friendlies in Siliguri. He is currently the most in-form keeper in Kolkata.

Right Back: Pritam Kotal (MB)

East Bengal’s Naoba Singh has always been unconvincingly defensively while Mohun Bagan’s other right back Wahed Sali has been inconsistent. Hence we choose 20-year-old Kotal, whose loan move to the green-and-maroon brigade has coincided with their recent revival. The former Arrows youngster is solid defensively and is capable of overlapping effectively too. Given Karim Bencherifa’s track record of producing internationals, Kotal looks good to play for the India senior team soon.

Centre Back: Arnab Mondal (EB)

The former India under-23 international has been consistent for East Bengal ever since joining them last season and also established himself in the senior national team. Arnab had plenty of responsibility on his shoulders in the Siliguri friendlies due to Gouramangi Singh’s absence and he lived up to Wim Koevermans’ expectations despite not having much experience at international level. Mohun Bagan’s Kingshuk Debnath has started this season very well but Arnab gets our nod for his overall quality and is as reliable as many of the foreign centre-backs in the I-League.

Centre Back: Uga Okpara (EB)

The Nigerian has been one of I-League’s most consistent central defenders ever since moving to India back in 2009. Subhash Bhowmick’s decision not to field Okpara in that infamous 5-3 defeat against Mohun Bagan is considered to be a historical blunder by many East Bengal fans as the Kolkata club have had a very good defensive record with the 31-year-old in the side. Okpara is not only better than Mohun Bagan’s foreign centre-back Eche but can also be considered one of the best defenders ever to have played in India.

Left Back: Aibor Khongjee (MB)

The former Shillong Lajong player might have played in central defence for India in the two international friendlies in Siliguri but he gets selected as the left back in this team ahead of East Bengal’s Saumik Dey who hasn’t had a good start to this campaign. Shouvik Ghosh has been used at left back by Bencherifa recently but he is more of a central defender. Khongjee is more suited to play as a left back because of his athleticism and is in fact one of the most versatile defenders in the country.

Defensive Midfielder: Mehtab Hossain (EB)

The East Bengal midfield general would possibly make any current Indian football dream team because of his consistency for club and country over a long period of time. Mehtab also stakes a claim to be the AIFF Player of the Year this time and has become indispensable to the national team. His career seems to have changed completely since his spell at Mohun Bagan where he played in various different roles but was never consistent.

Central Midfielder: Harmanjot Singh Khabra (EB)

Khabra was one of the most consistent Indian players last season until an injury that kept him out for the start of this campaign also. He struggled to get into the team under Marcos Falopa but is rated highly by Armando Colaco, who also gave the Punjabi player his first national team call-up. Khabra is capable of playing in various different positions but his work rate and tenacity makes him an important player in central midfield of the 4-1-3-2 system.

Central Midfielder: Lalrindika Ralte (EB)

Most of Mohun Bagan’s midfielders are either raw or unproven talent. Lalrindika is still very inexperienced but he has been producing the goods at club level for the last two seasons now and has become India’s joint all-time highest scorer in the AFC Cup. The Mizoram medio is another player who made his international debut under Colaco and is expected to flourish and score many more goals from midfield under the former Dempo tactician.

Attacking Midfielder: Katsumi Yusa (MB)

East Bengal’s Ryuji Sueoka might have more experience and the know-how of the Kolkata derby but its Mohun Bagan’s Japanese attacking medio who gets our vote because of his consistency over the last 18 months. While Sueoka has been struggling with injury, Yusa has been Mohun Bagan’s biggest attacking threat during Odafa Okolie’s lengthy injury layoff. Now that the Nigerian is back, the former ONGC player should be able to bag more assists.

Forward: Odafa Okolie (MB)

The Mohun Bagan skipper has missed more than first two months of the season due to injury with East Bengal coach Colaco suggesting that he won’t be at his best on Sunday. But Odafa’s class is permanent in Indian football and he is one of the best big game players. Thus he gets into this team ahead of the unpredictable James Moga and could be further motivated by Colaco’s comments.

Forward: Edeh Chidi (EB)

East Bengal’s top scorer of last season was struggling to find the back of the net during Falopa’s tenure but immediately after the Brazilian’s departure Chidi scored a hattrick in the Calcutta Football League. Clearly he was not enjoying playing under Falopa but he has now been reunited with Colaco and looks hungry for goals again. The record holder of most goals in a single fixture of this rivalry was an easy pick ahead of Mohun Bagan duo CS Sabeeth and Eric Muranda.