ISL 2019-20: 5 concerns Bengaluru FC faced during their campaign

#.4 Over-reliance on set-pieces

Carles Cudrat's future in the club remains uncertain due to a bad run of form

A set-piece is one of the most lethal, yet underrated forms of goal scoring opportunities. A team has a fair chance of scoring a goal from a set-piece irrespective of how much better the opponent is, provided they are trained accordingly.

Over the years, Bengaluru FC has been known to make use of set-pieces effectively. Since Roca's time at the club, the Blues use set-pieces when they are not able to score from open play, but this season, BFC has been over-reliant on set-pieces to find goals and to carve results out of the game. While more often than not, it has helped the Blues to score goals, it has made BFC a very predictable team, with the opponent needing to only defend their set-pieces to keep them from scoring. This was evident in most of the games when the Blues faced the likes of ATK, Chennaiyin FC, and Kerala Blasters FC, all very solid at the back.

In modern football, coaches have the assistance of technologies like video analysis, due to which the team knows exactly what are the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, hence teams that play uni-dimensional football are often punished.

#5. The failure of the Indian forward duo

Udanta has been this season's biggest disappointment scoring only once throughout the campaign

Bengaluru FC has been a team that has relied on its young prodigies to create an impact. BFC has created several rising stars over the years, with the likes of Udanta Singh and Nishu Kumar being household names, courtesy the performance they have put in for the Blues over the years.

Bengaluru signed Ashique Kuruniyan, a left-footed winger from Pune City FC in the summer transfer window to give them a cutting-edge on the left flank. The trio of Ashique, Sunil and Udanta were much talked about before the season, since they play as forwards for the national team as well.

It would not be a stretch to say that, the Indian duo of Ashique and Udanta have been the season's big disappointments. While Ashique lacks the decision-making skills of when to cross and when to dribble, Udanta has lost his self-confidence after having an different run of form.

Udanta could use some time away from the limelight , while it remains to be seen how Carles will make use of Ashique next season. However, the club has reposed their long-term faith in him after offering him a three-year contract extension.

Udanta Singh, the 23-year-old India International, has penned a new deal that keeps him with Bengaluru FC till the end of the 2022-23 campaign. More via @sportstarweb #MediaWatch #Udanta2023https://t.co/yJdq90fE6F

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) March 13, 2020

Since Ashique has seemed like a potential replacement for Nishu Kumar, who is all but confirmed to move to Kerala Blasters on a move worth a fortune after his contract with the Blues is scheduled to end this summer, this will be a big conundrum for the management.

Bengaluru FC is known to win, but if there is one thing they do best, it is to come back stronger than ever after a defeat. It remains to be seen how the management of BFC tackles a bad season by the lofty standards the Blues have set for themselves. Do they sack their manager? Do they let go of a bunch of players and recruit fresh ones? Or do they just tweak their attack a wee bit? Only time will tell!