Football fans in India are going crazy as one of the biggest transfers in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) went down a few days ago and broke the internet. It is official, Roy Krishna has parted ways with ATK Mohun Bagan and has joined Bengaluru FC on two-year deal. The 34-year-old Fijian striker has been on top of the score chart throughout his time in the Hero ISL and it is safe to say that Bengaluru have added an established star player for their frontline.
The question remains, how will Krishna fit in their setup and help push the struggling side back to the glory days? Let’s break it down.
The Fijian Star Shining In India
Although Roy Krishna is a big deal back in Fiji being their all-time top scorer, his three years in the Hero ISL have made him a fan favourite in India as well. Before his India sojourn, Krishna used to play across the Indian Ocean in New Zealand. The striker made it big in the A-League during his tenure at Wellington Phoenix, where he became the only player in the history of the club to score a half-century of goals, having netted the ball 52 times in 127 appearances.
After failing to finalise a long-term deal with the club, Krishna decided to look for a new challenge and he found his next chapter in Kolkata for ATK FC in 2019. The Fijian has been named as the joint top-scorer of the league two out of the three seasons he has played in the ISL. He helped ATK lift the league title in 2020 and ended his spell at ATK Mohun Bagan on a strong note having helped them qualify for the knockout stages of the AFC Cup.
Roy Krishna At Bengaluru FC
At first, Krishna might seem like a classic poacher playing in the box, but the player is so much more than what meets the eye. Other than his stellar finishing in front of goal, Krishna is a technically gifted footballer who has many tricks up his sleeve. His big stature helps him win physical battles against defenders and his agility helps him glide past the back line and get in good positions in the final third. Good in the air, with lethal pace and tactical prowess, Krishna is the complete package who can score goals left, right and centre.
For the last two consecutive seasons, Bengaluru FC haven’t qualified for the playoffs and compared to their performances in the initial seasons of the league, it is a huge fall from grace for the West Block Blues. After an inconsistent showing last year, Bengaluru finished sixth in the league with 32 goals. Being a side with an aggressive approach to the game, Bengaluru should have had a better showing in front of the goal. The goal conversion rate has been lower than par and that is where Roy Krishna’s skill will come into play. Making the most out of the chances created in the final third is what their new manager, Simon Grayson would have on his priority list. We have also seen Krishna drop back and contribute to the link-up play which shows his work rate and understanding of the game.
Bengaluru also has a relatively young squad and most areas are lacking experienced players. Having played football around the world and having a rich resume is surely going to help Krishna guide the youngsters. Krishna will be leading his teammates by example about playing a high-standard brand of football. His tactical thinking is going to bring a whole new dimension to their attack and having won the league already, Roy Krishna is well aware of what it takes to be and stay at the top. The Fijian is more than capable of helping Bengaluru FC lift the ISL trophy they have been eyeing for so long.
Read: Fikru to Ogbeche: Players Who Have Won Back-To-Back Hero ISL Titles
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