Jamil believes that although the team is heavily depleted with four key players still recuperating from injuries, they stand a good chance to win against the Mizoram outfit. Mumbai FC kipper Taisuke Matsugae, defenders Min-Chol Son, Allan Dias and medio Izumi Arata – all are still recovering from their injuries and are not hundred percent fit. However, they are not ruled out for the game as Jamil said that he would assess their fitness on Wednesday morning before deciding if they could be included in the team.

“In the last game against Sporting Clube de Goa we also missed the four players and still we played well and managed to get a good result. But now we have to think positive about this match. The boys have to be more disciplined and play according to the plans and go all out for a win,” Jamil mentioned during the pre-match briefing on Tuesday evening.

Jamil has also warned his players about being complacent against the visitors as they had done in the away match, that they lost 0-2 a couple of days ago. “In the previous meeting with debutants Aizawl, we took them a bit lightly, especially in the second half. But this time we cannot make the same mistakes, we have to be tighter and try to win the game as we need the three points,” he stated.

Aizawl coach Jahar Das also said that Mumbai paid dearly for taking them lightly in the last meeting. “I can clearly state that Mumbai were a bit complacent against us. That gave us a chance to penetrate their defence and get the goals. But this time it would certainly be different and I expect a stiffer and stronger challenge,” said Das, who replaced Manuel Retamero Fraile as Aizawl coach in early February this year.

Das also mentioned that with the Mumbai side hampered with injuries it would be the best time to play against them. “With the Mumbai team down with injuries it’s definitely the best time to play them. But it always does not work that way. In the previous game Bengaluru, too, faced a similar situation, but we could not capitalize and instead went on to concede a goal lost the game,” he lamented.

Jamil was not too worried that N.P. Pradeep, who wore the skipper’s arm-band, was sent off with a red card and faces an automatic suspension. “Yes Pradeep will also be out but I am confident that with options available, including the new players taken on loan, they will be ideal replacements and deliver the goods,” he said, adding, this is out home game and we have to ensure we win all the homes matches as we have four away games after this.

Mumbai FC with 10 points from 9 games is in sixth position and Aizawl with 8 points also from 9 outings are placed a rung below in seventh place.

After Wednesday’s game, Mumbai FC will be out playing four back-to-back away matches against Salgaocar SC (Mar 5), Mohun Bagan (Mar 13), Bengaluru FC (Apr 2) and East Bengal (Apr 5) before returning to play the remaining two home matches against Shillong Lajong (Apr 17) and DSK Shivajians (Apr 24).

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