With only three matchweeks left for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 league phase to end, all teams are set to go all out in the final phase of the league. While Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Odisha FC, and FC Goa are battling it out for the League Shield, Kerala Blasters FC seem desperate to seal their playoff spot amidst a run of poor results.

Jamshedpur FC, Punjab FC, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, and Chennaiyin FC, all have their eyes on the final playoff berth while Hyderabad FC are set to finish off the season playing for their pride.

To conclude the season accomplishing their respective goals, each team is set to make use of all of its arsenal, among which the coaches play a crucial role.

With Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC and Mohun Bagan SG having gone through a change of coach midway through the season, let’s take a look at how the change at the wheel has affected each of them.

Mumbai City FC (Petr Kratky)

Although the start to Kratky’s regime as Mumbai City FC’s head coach saw the only two defeats that the then-undefeated Islanders have suffered this season, including a shocking loss from 2-0 up against Jamshedpur FC, the Czech-Australian tactician has still managed to lead his men atop the league table with 39 points off their 19 matches.

Since the arrival of Kratky, Mumbai City FC have registered seven wins in their 13 matches, bagging 21 goals in the process. Under former head coach Des Buckingham, the Islanders, albeit having played only five games this season, scored nine goals with a higher shot conversion rate of 15.25% compared to the team’s under Kratky, 11.67%.

Bengaluru FC (Gerard Zaragoza)

Bengaluru FC currently stand a chance to make it through to the playoffs, thanks to a series of positive results since the appointment of Zaragoza at the helm of the Blues.

Under former head coach, Simon Grayson, the Blues had only managed a single win in their opening nine league games of the ongoing season, but with Zaragoza taking charge, in the same number of matches, Bengaluru FC have managed to win four games.

Although under Grayson the Blues showcased a shot conversion rate of 10% and a shooting accuracy of 47.3%, scoring 10 goals, compared to the 8.41% shot conversion rate and 32.88% shooting accuracy under Zaragoza, scoring one less goal, they conceded 16 goals under Grayson, whereas under Zaragoza they have only conceded 10.

Jamshedpur FC (Khalid Jamil)

The Men of Steel didn’t start off the season on great terms but currently seem to be the in-form team among those chasing the final playoff spot.

With Scott Cooper relieved from his head coach duties Jamshedpur FC look to have found a new zest under the guidance of new head coach Khalid Jamil.

Under Cooper, the Jamshedpur-based side had secured only two wins and seven defeats in their 12 games. With a shot conversion rate of 7.89% and a shooting accuracy of 33.33%, the Men of Steel had bagged 12 goals while conceding 15 goals under Cooper.

Since Jamil was given the key to the squad, Jamshedpur FC have won thrice in their seven games, including a historic comeback against Mumbai City FC from 2-0 down, losing only on one occasion. They have further scored the same number of goals as under Cooper (12) but conceded a significantly lower nine goals, maintaining a shot conversion rate of 11.65% and a shooting accuracy of 40%.

Mohun Bagan SG (Antonio Lopez Habas)

Habas, who had earlier coached the Mariners in the 2020-21 season, was reassigned at the helm of Mohun Bagan SG with Juan Ferrando making way after suffering three consecutive defeats against Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, and Kerala Blasters FC leading up to the mid-season break in January 2024.

Taking the wheel of the Kolkata-based side, Habas seems to have turned things around for them, making them a strong contender for the League Shield this season. Under Habas, Mohun Bagan SG are undefeated as of yet with six wins and two draws in their eight games with him in charge. The team has also scored 19 goals, the same as they did under Ferrando this season, but two fewer games than that and a higher shot conversion rate of 15.08% and a 54.46% shooting accuracy, compared to the team’s conversion rate of 13.67% and shooting accuracy of 46.15% under Ferrando. Further, the Mariners have only conceded eight goals under Habas whereas, under his predecessor, they had conceded 14 goals.