Mumbai City FC, one of the giants of Indian domestic football, will enter into the upcoming season of the Indian Super League with the intention to dominate it in its entirety.
The Islanders are the only alternative option – apart from Odisha FC – who can end the reign of dominance held aloft by Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and they will be immensely motivated to hold their own this season.
Mumbai won the ISL Cup by beating Bagan in the final last season, even as they let the Shield slip from their grasp in the dying stages of the last game. This time, however, the challengers will have their goals set from match number one.
Summer Transfer Window
A part of the City Football Group, Mumbai have never had any financial challenges to speak of and have been able to secure the players that their management has set its eyes on ever since the formation of the ISL.
In the summer window this year, they were able to procure the signatures of big names such as Jeremy Manzorro – who was legendary with Jamshedpur FC – as well as attacking midfielder Jon Toral from Greek club OFI Crete FC.
Another player who joined the Islanders from Greece this season was centre-forward Nikolaos Karelis, who is sure to lead their attacking line. However, their biggest acquisition was the signature of Brandon Fernandes.
The India captain – beloved by all and sundry in his hometown club FC Goa – surprisingly chose not to extend his contract at the Fatorda and returned to his first ISL club Mumbai City instead.
Midfielder Hitesh Sharma and goalkeeper TP Rehenesh are a couple of names that will lend solidity to their Indian core – one that coach Petr Kratky will be keen on expanding and relying upon.
However, the departures of midfielder Apuia to Mohun Bagan and hometown hero Rahul Bheke to Bengaluru FC are bound to rankle among the club’s supporters, who turn up in numbers at the Mumbai Football Arena every game.
Pre-Season
The club did not have the best of times in the Durand Cup, losing all three games that they played (0-8 to Kerala Blasters, 0-2 to CISF and 0-3 to Punjab FC). However, it must be noted that they did not send their first team.
Instead, they went to Thailand to prepare extensively and did so with few casualties. They were able to play a lot of friendlies to test themselves in sweltering conditions, and this is bound to help the Islanders in the ISL.
If they had fielded their first team in the Durand Cup, it would have been easier for Indian audiences to gauge how they have shaped up ahead of the domestic season.
Squad Compared to Last Season
The Mumbai squad does seem to be a tad less hefty than what it was last season, although all six foreigners that they have mean business, and four of them have prior experience playing in India.
With Tiri, Thaer Krouma and Yoell van Nieff continuing with the squad, coach Kraty will be hoping for some continuity. At the same time, the Indian contingent too seems high in spirits with star player Lallianzuala Chhangte leading the lines.
The biggest advantage that the Islanders have is in terms of youth: the likes of Ayush Chikkara, Valpuia, Sahil Panwar and Franklin Nazareth among others will be hungry to showcase what it is that makes them so highly sought-after.
Most Exciting Player to Look Forward To
Young centre-forward Ayush Chhikara, who held his own and stood firm against taller opponents in the Kalinga Super Cup in January earlier this year, is one of the dark horses in Kratky’s side and one who will be hopeful of firing.
The 22-year-old’s positioning and work off the ball have already won him plaudits from his coach and he will be keen on converting his promise into goals this season.
Player with a Point to Prove
Brandon Fernandes is undoubtedly the player who has the biggest point to prove this season. Leaving FC Goa, where he was a club legend and coming back to his first ISL club Mumbai City would have been a big challenge for the Benaulim boy.
The attacking midfielder was ruled out of the Intercontinental Cup this month owing to an injury and will be hoping to hit the ground running when the ISL begins. His creative influence will be desperately needed by the Islanders.
Fernandes’ vision is what separates him from his colleagues, and gives him the freedom to explore avenues of the field that are usually left untouched. His long passes as well as his abilities from dead-ball situations also set him apart.
Best XI
Formation – Phurba Lachenpa (GK); Sanjeev Stalin, Mehtab Singh, Tiri, Valpuia, Jon Toral,Hitesh Sharma, Yoell Van Nieff; Lallianzualla Chhangte, Nikolas Karelis, Bipin Singh.
Most of the Mumbai side selects itself, with only Sanjeev Stalin and Sahil Panwar making their way in as the fullbacks given that Rahul Bheke has left the club and Akash Mishra is ruled out with an ACL injury.
The extent of the recovery of Brandon Fernandes and Vikram Partap Singh’s injuries is not known yet, but they are still included in this provisional side.
Predictions
Mumbai, the winners of the ISL Cup last season are one of the biggest favourites to retain their crown this season as well as mount an attempt at the ISL Shield.
They are perhaps the biggest challengers that Bagan have for the title, and it will be a toe-to-toe battle between the two from the first game that they play against each other – the curtain raiser of this season of the ISL on Friday, September 13.
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