The ISL came to an end on Saturday with ATK Mohun Bagan’s victory over Bengaluru FC in the final – after Mumbai City FC were previously crowned winners of the league shield. Some new foreigners have set the league on fire and some existing foreigners have continued to show their excellence but a key feature of this season has been the number of Indians who have taken on the mantle of being game-changers including ESPN India’s player of the year season – – Lallianzuala Chhangte.
The winner: Lallianzuala Chhangte
There was not much to discuss here. Before the season started, Mumbai City coach Des Buckingham said his staff had worked with Chhangte to ensure an improved output in the final third. That work was necessary, as the winger had scored just five goals in the past two ISL seasons. The fruits of that work could already be seen at the Durand Cup, where he was the top scorer with seven goals. But in the ISL, Chhangte reached a whole other level.
Over a period of about three months, there was a predictability to the outcome as Chhangte slammed in on his left foot from the right flank, a la Arjen Robben. Some of those goals – against ATKMB and Bengaluru FC at the Mumbai Football Arena and then against ATKMB away – were those of a man who had full faith in his own abilities. That ability has always been there, but this season it came to life on the biggest stage in Indian football. He enjoyed the company of Greg Stewart, Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Bipin Singh and was merry with his team’s expansive style of play; a style that saw Mumbai City score 56 goals in 22 matches this season. Chhangte contributed to 16 of those 56, scoring 10 and assisting another six.
He scored a variety of goals from different distances and angles. In Buckingham’s system, he was the complete inside forward. Whether it was Vishal Kaith’s stunning long range drive that went in off the bottom of the crossbar from Vishal Kaith or a poacher’s perfect finish to kick off Mumbai City’s comeback at Jamshedpur, Chhangte showed that his speed and skill are now a solid ally had in his goal instinct. He knew where to be, when to be, and most importantly, he knew how to shoot the ball into the back of the net from where he was.
How Des Buckingham inspired Mumbai City to a record-breaking ISL season
He also scored decisive goals – six of his 10 goals came as Mumbai City were tied or trailing in matches. Not only did he score goals to pile up the opponent’s misery (which Mumbai City did very often), he scored the goals that mattered, which is what sets him apart from other players this season. The regularity with which Chhangte made the difference for the side that finished top of the league simply cannot be ignored.
The ISL Hero of the League award also went to Chhangte making him the second Indian after Sunil Chhetri to win the award. This season, Chhangte has been sensational, for Mumbai City, and as a winger reborn. Don’t be surprised if his sights are set on repeating this again next season.
The other contenders: Dimitrios Petratos and Greg Stewart
With 12 goals and 7 assists, Dimitrios Petratos has contributed to 67.9% of ATK Mohun Bagan’s goals this season. He had an unenviable part to play, coming into a side that had lost Roy Krishna and David Williams in the off-season. Petratos got up and made sure in a stop-start season for them Juan Ferrando’s side were still in contention.
The final, where he scored twice, was another reminder of how clinical he is. He may not be your typical striker, he won’t always occupy the centre-backs, he won’t always be in the penalty area, but when he puts a ball at Petratos’ feet, he conjures up something, as far from goal as possible . are. In the final, it seemed like he put those penalties on the side net to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s right, almost on autopilot. The precision, the poise, the composure… Without Dimi Petratos, ATK Mohun Bagan wouldn’t be an ISL champion. It really is that simple.
Speaking of doing magic with the ball at your feet, how can you miss Greg Stewart? The numbers will tell you that his 7 goals and 8 assists this season are a step down from his 10 goals and 10 assists last season, but that doesn’t tell you half the story of what he brought to this Mumbai City team. When attacking with our POTS, Bipin Singh and Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Stewart was happy to play the role of facilitator.
Greg Stewart: ‘I was always meant to be a footballer, I just took a different journey’
They ran hard, they threatened in the penalty area, but around them Stewart was always – he saw those passes no one else in this league can see, took some of the most heavenly touches, just made that little round thing on his feet obey already his instructions. When it comes off, which it usually does, it’s a treat. Taste his two free-kicks on the day Mumbai City were crowned champions of the league shield – just gentle strokes of the ball, enough to do a lot of damage. He’s been pretty awesome all season.