Losses in two matches have reduced the sheen off Mumbai City FC as it readies to face North East United FC in an Indian Super League home game at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Both sides will be playing their 16th tie, with the hosts in second place (27 points from eight wins and three draws) and the visitors in fourth (24, six wins, six draws).
Needing a win to stay in the running for the play-offs, and with central defender Luican Golan ruled out due to yellow cards, coach Jorge Costa will have to re-arrange his backline. The Romanian is a tough nut to crack in defence and is also useful upfront during corner-kicks.
MCFC on the offensive is a threat to any opponent, helped by confidence during ball possession by Rayner Fernandes, Paulo Machado, Anold Issoko, Rafael Bastos, and Modou Sougou. Scoring early will also help Costa’s side and project an assertive face. “We need to be at our best and finish with three points,” said the coach.
NEUFC, under Eelco Schattorie, is a difficult team to tackle. Bartholomew Ogbeche and Federico Gallego are the dangermen having netted 15 goals between them. MCFC’s Costa remarked: “They (NEUFC) have very good players and are a very aggressive team. In terms of organisation, one of the best.”
Schattorie observed: “I told my players that the phase is different and the mindset needs to change. You cannot afford to make mistakes, with teams so close to us. Winning is important, we need three points.”
