After demolishing Pune City FC with a superb 5-0 scoreline, Mumbai City FC would look to continue their sparkling form when they clash with North East United FC in their next ISL fixture on Friday.
The hosts bounced back after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Atletico de Kolkata in the inaugural match and coach Peter Reid said he was pleased with the way the team had performed.
“The last result was terrific and we want to carry on that form. Delighted to score five goals and even more delighted to keep a clean sheet because if you keep a clean sheet, you don’t lose football matches,” Reid told reporters on the eve of the match.
“It is going to be hard though on Friday. I know their coach Ricki Herbert. I’ve managed against him when he was the New Zealand coach and I was with Thailand. It will be difficult, but we are looking forward to it and we hope to replicate our passing from the last game and hopefully get another positive result,” he added.
Reid had played an attacking formation in both the games and he is likely to adopt a similar aggressive approach in the next home encounter.
“I want to go out there and be as solid as we were against Pune. If we get it right with the attacking players we’ve got, we can give anyone a game.”
In the previous game, Brazilian Andre Moritz had scored a hat-trick and penetrated the opponent’s defence with ease along with Indian striker Subash Singh.
It will be interesting to see whom they field ton Friday as the team will be spoilt for choice with the injured players Freddie Ljungberg and Syed Nabi regaining fitness.
“Ljunberg is 100 per cent fit to start. So I’ve got a problem. I’ve got an even better problem in the game as Nicolas Anelka can start (after serving a three match ban). I don’t mind having such problems,” he said.
“All the players that came in for the previous game, did well. I am delighted with the competition for places. Subash played excellently up front, he worked really hard. We all saw how good Andre Moritz is. Peter Costa, the right back did a terrific job,” Reid said.
Skipper Syed Rahim Nabi, who injured his ankle in the opening game had missed the first home game.
“Nabi is going to train. We’ve been nursing him, but he is fit to play. He is a very experienced and consistent player and I am delighted to have him fit,” he said.
With the style of play the team has adopted in the competition, the role of custodian Subrata Pal would once again be critical for the team.
NorthEast United on the other hand would look to bounce back with a win in their first away match. The John Abraham co-owned side had secured a win against Kerala Blasters in the first game but lost to Atletico de Kolkata and drew against FC Goa.
Despite putting up good performance, the team has struggled to put the ball in the net and has just scored two goals in three matches and would look to change that against Mumbai.
Coach Ricki Herbert said they would play attacking style of football and said it has been testing after playing three home games on the trot in a span of six days.
“Home or away, we would like to be offensive. We are not here to shut shop and be afraid to go forward. I am more worried about who’ll play for us. There is incredible respect for what other franchises are doing and how they are playing. But I’ve had a long career in franchise football and I know teams fluctuate. And I think teams will fluctuate in this tournament. We are coming through the hardest initial period of 3 games in 6 days and it’s been testing. Hopefully we will be fresh and do well. I think we did well against Goa and could’ve got more out of the game, he said.
The Spanish striker Koke who has scored both the goals for his side will be the man to watch out for while skipper Miguel Garcia would have to shoulder the defence responsibilities.
