Mumbai City FC- all anxious in reclaiming the top spot

by Marina Gonsalves February 20, 2021

Mumbai City FC has performed exceptionally this season in the Hero ISL. However, at the business end of the league, the Islanders dropped points against FC Goa and Bengaluru FC.

The Islanders have shown some amazing skills and tactical prowess on the pitch in the previous games. Right now, Mumbai City FC is in the second position, 5 points short of ATK Mohun Bagan with 34 points. The team has a total of 10 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses from 17 games.

At present Jamshedpur FC are in the 7th position with 21 points. Jamshedpur FC has chances to make their way to the playoff if they win the remaining matches.

Jamshedpur FC has won a total of 5 games and lost 7 games the team has 6 games drawn in a total of 18 matches this season. The team has scored a total of 16 goals and conceded 20 goals.

The last time when the Islanders met the Red Miners on 14th December ’20, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Mumbai City FC has faced Jamshedpur in a total of 7 games previously out of which Mumbai has won and drew twice and lost thrice.

Under the guidance of Coach Sergio Lobera, the team has improved drastically. The team faced Jamshedpur once and the result was a draw.

To reclaim the top spot, the Islanders have to win all of their remaining matches. “We worked hard to achieve this place and we don’t want to lose in this game so we’ll not let this go and we will fight for it,” said Vignesh, Mumbai City FC’s midfielder in relation to the top spot.

Vignesh is a key midfielder for the club who acts as a link between the defence and the forward. He has 1 goal registered under his name which he scored against Hyderabad FC.

Knowing his last encounter with Jamshedpur FC, the young lad said “We have already played a game against Jamshedpur FC and we know about them and even our team has good players like them so focusing on a particular player doesn’t matter, we as a team have a plan and we are going to execute it.”

Stressing on the training session since the last match, the young midfielder said, “we know where we lacked in the last game and we never want to repeat that. We have worked on it, we have to be more clinical and keep the ball and finish the chances that we create.”

The gaffer is all positive and pumped up for the upcoming game. The Coach has his target set on the AFC Champions League Group stage 2022. The team is in a crucial battle against ATK Mohun Bagan who are right now in the top spot. But the Coach is determined to achieve the top spot back.

“I think we are in a good position; it is because we have done our job well so far, obviously from the last game we have to compete against a very good team, ATK Mohun Bagan is doing a very good job.”

In a review of the previous game, the Coach said, “I feel as always, we need to work, we need to continue in improving in some aspects of the game but most important thing is to work on the balance, it is the most important thing in football. To work on defence and to be more clinical with our chances. We need to focus on the upcoming games and work towards it.”

In the meantime, Hugo Boumous has been handed an additional two-match ban and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakhs by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee. He will be missing the remaining games in the league phase and will be eligible for selection again in the playoffs.

PREDICTED XI:

Mumbai City FC: 4-2-3-1

Amrinder Singh, Mandar Rao Desai, Mourtada Fall, Hernan Santana, Amey Ranawade, Rowllin Borges, Ahmed Jahouh, Raynier Fernandes, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy, Bipin Singh, Adam le Fondre.

Jamshedpur FC: 4-4-2

Rehenesh T. P., Laldinliana Renthlei, Stephen Eze, Peter Hartley, Ricky Lallawmawma, Amarjit Kiyam, Aitor Monroy, Mobashir Rahman, Farukh Choudhary, Nerijus Valskis, David Grande.

Both the teams are doing well in the League, Mumbai City FC would require 5 points to equalize with the current table-toppers. Whereas, Jamshedpur FC needs to win the remaining matches to set their foot in the playoffs.

PICTURE CREDIT: ISL MEDIA

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