Mohun Bagan, fresh from defending the ISL Shield—the first club ever to achieve this feat—will take on Mumbai City FC in the first of their remaining two league stage games. However, head coach Jose Molina has no plans to sit back and relax, as he has clearly stated that his team will be aiming for a record points tally before heading into the playoffs.
“We have some records in terms of victories and similar achievements. We can still improve and do better. I have spoken with my players, and we must keep going and give our best in the last two matches, trying to win both. After that, maybe we can relax a little and become even stronger for the semi-finals,” said Molina in the pre-match press conference before flying to Mumbai.
On the other hand, Mumbai City FC has struggled to replicate their glorious form from the last two seasons, winning only eight games—their lowest tally since the 2020-21 campaign. However, they have still managed to stay within the top six, accumulating 32 points from 21 games. The Islanders need a win from their remaining three matches to confirm their place in the playoffs.
In their 11 previous encounters, Mumbai City FC has won seven games, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant has triumphed only once. Three matches have ended in draws. Moreover, Mohun Bagan is yet to secure a victory at Mumbai’s home ground, making this challenge even more crucial for Molina.
“I’m sure it will be a tough match against a strong opponent. It’s always very difficult to win in Mumbai,” Molina admitted, assessing his rivals.
The visitors will be without Jason Cummings, who is suspended due to four yellow cards, while Sahal Abdul Samad remains unavailable for selection. It also remains to be seen whether Molina will give opportunities to some bench players, having already secured the silverware. However, there were no clear indications of major changes during training. Still, a few rotations in the playing XI are expected, with workload management being a key factor. Players like Alberto Rodriguez, Asish Rai, and Apuia might be rested.
“But I can’t reveal our plan just yet. You will see it in Mumbai. You will see the lineup in Mumbai. That said, I trust all my players. If some of them, who you might consider the most important members of the team, don’t play, it won’t matter. Others will step up,” Molina said, keeping his cards close to his chest regarding possible changes.
Mumbai City FC will also be troubled by the absence of their versatile defender Mehtab Singh, who has been handed a two-match suspension by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee.
When these two sides met in the season opener, Thaer Krouma’s late equalizer earned Mumbai a hard-fought draw at the Salt Lake Stadium. Since then, a lot has changed. Molina and his men have demonstrated dominance, consistency, and resilience, winning the Shield with the highest points tally in ISL history while also registering the most victories in the league. What has caught everyone’s attention is that even after defending the league’s highest honour, the focus and intensity in the Green and Maroon Brigade’s camp remains unchanged. This indicates that complacency won’t be a factor when Mohun Bagan faces Mumbai at the Mumbai Football Arena.
Additionally, the Mariners will be driven by the ambition of securing their first-ever win at Mumbai’s home ground and completing a sixth consecutive victory. These factors will only add more fire to their motivation as they step onto the pitch.
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