From rockbottom to ISL 2015 semifinals: How Chennaiyin completed their supreme comeback

After three encounters with a glut of goals, Chennaiyin FC put up a good defensive show - yes, defensive - to edge Pune 1-0 in their final match of the league stage. With their fourth win in as many matches, Chennaiyin jumped to the second spot on the table and cemented their Indian Super League play-off spot. After the last home game against Mumbai City, manager Marco Materazzi credited his side’s teamwork for the turnaround they made after being rockbottom in the table at one point. Here are three factors which contributed to their qualification in the semifinals for the second year in a row: Seamless changes Chennaiyin’s rotation policy was leading to an unsettled defense and was criticised before their winning run started. But it looks as though Materazzi had been using the first ten games to sharpen his extra dark pencil to underline why he was right to rotate. [caption id=“attachment_2534902” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chennaiyin have pumped in the goals – just like last year. ISL[/caption] What has happened is every player in this Chennaiyin team clearly knows his role in the position he is played. Mailson Alves, Bernard Mendy and Alessandro Potenza now have a much better understanding in defence. The same idea applies to the midfield where Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Khabra, Manuele Blasi and Zakeer Mundampara have all put in good shifts during this winning streak. In fact, Khabra’s suspension combined with Augusto’s injury was a concern in the game against Mumbai City. But that was barely noticed. Elano replacing Bruno Pelissari on the left wing has not really been a convincing change, but so far so good. Materazzi finally has recognised the best striking combination up front and has rightly left it untouched. All in all, having a good backup for every position seems to have been achieved so far. ‘Defend while you defend, attack while you attack’ attitude Twelve goals scored and just one conceded in four games makes a really good reading for any team. But what was more important for Chennaiyin was to get their priorities right. At home in the crunch part of the league stage, they really had to win to be within shouting distance for the semifinals. The intent was clear - as from the minute go, the team as a unit harried for possession and put in as many goals as possible. Once the game was in the bag, they comfortably saw them out with disciplined possession. In the away match, Chennaiyin were set up not to concede as a point was enough to secure qualification. Here was a team that had banged in 11 goals in three games and were happy to play the waiting game. Pune did accept the invitation and took the attack to the opposition, but goalkeeper Edel Bete and the back four stood strong to deny the home team in the first half. The visitors made their presence felt with some of their own chances with early pressure in the second half which culminated in a deserving goal for Jeje Lalpekhlua. But once the goal was scored, the team wisely went back to format and shut the doors on Pune. Even when Chennaiyin’s forte is the attack, when the need arose they came together as a team to shutout the opposition, which has been most admirable. Hunger to prove The Chennaiyin franchise was the last to be confirmed last season and the little time it took to put together the team meant none looked seriously at them. They blew everyone off their feet with some scintillating displays and were ultimately knocked out by Kerala in heartbreaking fashion. This year, with some really good reinforcements, the burden of being the favourites seemed to have taken a toll of them. After a roller coaster ride, which had more drops, through the first ten games, the team has finally risen up to the challenge. Agreed that Chennaiyin have not really come back after conceding leads, but to win four out of four to jump from bottom to second in the table is no mean feat. The wins have been clinical too. Three clean sheets and a dozen goals have really brought out the team’s intent and hunger to make it to the play offs. From being outcast as one-season wonders to now being touted as favourites, Chennaiyin have really made a brilliant comeback.