5 things Mumbai City FC must do to beat Chennaiyin FC

by Siddharth Yadav October 16, 2015

Mumbai City FC are set to lock horns with Marco Materazzi’s Chennaiyin FC at DY Patil Stadium on Friday evening. The host has not lived up to their expectations in this season of Indian Super League so far. With Materazzi’s Chennaiyin FC on a major boost following their impressive performance against FC Goa as they went onto thrashed The Gaurs 4-0 in their previous game, it will definitely need Mumbai City’s brilliance to overcome Chennaiyin FC.

With Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Pal and Ashutosh Mehta returning back to Nicolas Anelka’s side it will be an intriguing clash where the Mumbaikars need to overcome Chennaiyin FC’s fortunes to earn their first victory of this season’s Indian Super League.

All Mumbai City FC needs to do is to best Chennaiyin FC by exploiting their weakness. Here are the 5 things Mumbai City FC must do to best Chennaiyin FC.

1. Start with Sunil Chhetri

In both of their games, first against FC Pune City in the Maharashtra Derby and the other against Kerala Blasters, Nicolas Anelka’s Mumbai City kept lot of ball possessions over the course of the match but failed to capitalized their chances into goals when needed.

With Sunil Chhetri returing to Mumbai City’s line-up, he will definitely add variations to the side. Chhetri is very clinical in front of the goal and with Sonny Norde and Gabriel Fernandes on either wings all Mumbai City FC must need to do is drifting Sunil Chhetri’s marker away from him so that he can occupy space and fancy his chances into the goal.

Mumbai City FC so far has missed lots of chances, Sunil Chhetri will definitely help them by being clinical.

2. Man-Mark Elano

This will be the toughest job Mumbai City FC need to take care of. Elano, who was phenomenal throughout last season’s campaign and has been quite impressive for Marco Materazzi’s side needs to be properly man-marked by Mumbai City FC players which will surely stop Chennaiyin FC’s attack.

One of Bustos or Pratesh Shirodkar will have to man-marked the Brazilian out of the game as they are the likely starters for tonight’s game. Both, Bustos and Pratesh Shirodkar will need to honour their defensive abilities, this will isolate Chennaiyin FC’s forward Jayesh Rane and Stiven Mendoza as all the Chennaiyin FC attack goes through their Skipper, Elano.

That will make Jayesh Rane and Stiven Mendoza’s pace futile and won’t threaten Mumbai City’s defence.

3. Score an early goal

With Sunil Chhetri and Frederic Piquionne both starting in tonight’s clash, Mumbai City FC will have to capitalize soon before it’s too late. Both the strikers has the ability to score and become a potent threat for opponents defence.

Scoring an early goal will also help home crowd get going as the fans are also meant to play their role.

In their first match of the season where FC Pune City defeated them 3-1, Frederic Piquionne scored the equalizer for Mumbai City just before the half-time. Soon Mumbai City FC started to dominate the game though they ended up on losing side all Mumbai City FC needs to do tonight is score an early goal which will pressurize Chennaiyin FC. Having an advantage means Mumbai City FC can sit back and keep ball possession as much they want to which will frustrate Marco Materazzi’s side.

4. Stretch Chennaiyin FC with in form wingers Sonny Norde & Gabriel Fernandes

Chennaiyin FC defence is vulnerable which was clearly noticeable before they thrashed FC Goa 4-0 in their previous match. Mumbai City FC can capitalize on Chennaiyin FC’s errors at the back and with in form Sonny Norde and Gabriel Fernandes on either wings it will definitely create a havoc for Chennaiyin FC’s back four.

Both the wingers, Sonny Norde and Gabriel Fernandes has the ability to stretch Chennaiyin FC defence which will allow both, Sunil Chhetri and Frederic Piquionne to penetrate their defence easily.

This will surely help Mumbai City FC to counter attack Chennaiyin FC as both the wingers has enough pace to outrun Chennaiyin FC’s vulnerable defence.

5. Put pressure on Chennaiyin FC’s midfield and stop counter attacks

Chennaiyin FC played on the counter against FC Goa and are likely to use same strategy against Mumbai City who like to keep a lot of ball possession. If the Mumbai City FC’s midfield does not put pressure on Chennaiyin FC’s midfield then the visitor can counter and kill Mumbai City’s defence with Stiven Mendoza’s and Jayesh Rane’s pace upfront.

Mumbai City’s midfield of Bustos and Pratesh worked well against Kerala Blasters and they must play their part against Chennaiyin FC too. Both the midfielders will need to stop Chennaiyin FC’s midfield by anticipating their play.