ISL 2: Aggressive Mumbai look to overpower Goa’s "philosophical attack"
Mumbai: Seven yellow cards in the last game against Delhi Dynamos will not stop Mumbai City FC to continue their aggressive style of play when the Ranbir Kapoor co-owned team take on table-toppers FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL), here on Sunday.
“Yes, we will continue with our aggressive style of play. We are a tough team. We want to have control of the game through the ball. We want to play at the maximum level which is an attacking and defending style. While we are attacking we want to be fresh, quick, sharp, smart, and while we are defending we want to be compact, united, committed and tough,” assistant coach of Mumbai City FC Oscar Bruzon said during the pre-match conference.
Currently placed at the bottom of the table with four points, Mumbai, who had a disappointing start to season two, finally found their mojo courtesy India’s top goal scorer Sunil Chhetri’s brace against Delhi, that enabled the side register vital two points.
A rejuvenated Mumbai now with two losses, a draw and a win, are aware that their opponents are in prime form but according to Bruzon, the Zico-coached side lack “freshness” off late.
“FC Goa are a tough team. We know we are playing with the leaders of the ISL. In the last games they are losing a little bit of freshness, so we need to keep the momentum going. We want to get back on track,” Bruzon, who hinted that marquee player-cum-coach Nicolas Anelka will “probably” feature in Sunday’s clash, said.
Back in the list of goal scorers, Chhetri, who missed out on the first season, is eager to carry on his form going into this clash. He along with Haitian Sony Norde looked dangerous during their match and against Delhi. But there’s a special bond these two share.
“We hated each other during the I-League. He’s a great lad. Norde plays in the left and comes in. When I was in Bengaluru FC too, I used to play on the left and come in. So we have a similar way of thinking in that position that’s why we understand more, and we click better than the rest of the other players, I just hope it keeps going,” Chhetri said.
FC Goa on their other hand, having played five matches with three wins, a draw and just one loss, are a satisfied lot sitting comfortably on top of the table with 10 points.
“I am very satisfied with my players, they are performing very well. The scene this year has been very different from last year. We want to carry on by winning this game too,” FC Goa coach Zico said with a calm and composed face.
FC Goa have displayed an attacking style of play and Zico pointed out that this will be their philosophy throughout the league. “We may change our formation but our philosophy is the same. We have to play with a more solid midfield. It doesn’t matter the way we play, we have to keep our philosophy the same and that is to attack,” he said.
The team from the coastal state have been hit by injuries, the latest being Brazilian striker Victor Simoes, who was flown back to Brazil due to a leg injury. FC Goa has been in great form but have also faced huge defeats, against Chennaiyin FC, when the score line read 4-0 but on hindsight have also managed to come back after being down early in the match against Kerala Blasters.
“It shows what our team is made of, even the 4-0 loss (against Chennai), it could have been 4-2 or 4-3 because we had one goal that was not allowed and one penalty that was not ours according to the referee. It shows that we are doing good work,” Zico pointed out.
It’s left to see at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai whether Mumbai’s aggressive style of paly will overpower Goa’s philosophical attack.
Kick-off: 7 p.m IST
