Match Preview: FC Goa Vs Mumbai City FC

It’s the dawn of a new era at Mumbai City Football Club. Mumbai City’s new Head Coach Petr Kratky will make his bow on the touchline for the Islanders with a test as tough as any. Mumbai City take on ISL League Leaders FC Goa in their own backyard at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Tuesday, December 12 with action kicking off at 8:00 PM.

After a month-long absence from the ISL, the Islanders made a stunning return to league action when they took on Bengaluru FC last week at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Mumbai City put Simon Grayson’s Bengaluru FC to the sword with two well-taken first half goals from Nasser El Khayati and Akash Mishra coupled with two second half penalties from Jorge Pereyra Díaz and Lallianzuala Chhangte as the Islanders ran out 4-0 winners. The following day, Mumbai City announced the much-awaited arrival of Petr Kratky as the club’s new Head Coach, who joins the Islanders following his previous role as Assistant Coach at Melbourne City FC.

Current ISL table toppers FC Goa have enjoyed a strong start to the domestic season under new Head Coach Manolo Marquez. With six wins and a draw in their first seven games, FC Goa have taken the ISL by storm in the opening third of the season. The Gaurs have kept their strong start going with three consecutive wins – the most recent one being a 1-0 win against Kerala Blasters at home, courtesy a first half stoppage time strike from Islanders’ loanee Rowllin Borges.

With his first ISL assignment on the horizon, Mumbai City’s new man in charge Petr Kratky addressed the media in his first pre-match press conference and shared his thoughts and preparations before his ISL debut against the league leaders. “I’m excited because I want to see our team against the top sides. If I can see and compare where we are at, it will be much better to understand where we have to go. We have a busy schedule, and we have to be really intelligent and smart in terms of how we handle the team, do rotations and all. We have to make sure that the players are ready and perform every three or four days. So, it will be exciting for me as it will be challenging and tough. I think we have a team of professionals, we have a good team and we have good support staff who look after us very well,” said Kratky ahead of the busy run of games, starting with FC Goa.

Jayesh Rane accompanied the Islanders’ new boss to the customary pre-match media interaction and asserted his side’s confidence coming into tonight’s challenge off the back of a solid win in Benglauru. The Mumbai-born midfielder said, “I think it’s good when you are coming with a win to play. It gives us a lot of confidence. It’s the same thing as we do, we try and we are here to win. We are here to do our best and get the three points.”

Focusing on the opposition at hand, Kratky was wary of the threat FC Goa possess and insists there is a reason to why they are where they are in the league table. “FC Goa have conceded just three goals in seven games. They are a very organised side and we are fully aware of that and we respect the quality. But also, we know our quality and it will be a very good game. They have very good players and they certainly know what they’re doing and they’re doing it very well. We are so looking forward to this game. We are here to compete, perform and and win. We know our quality – we stick to it and we will do our best on the day and then the best team on the day will win,” said the 42-year old head coach as he signed off from the press conference.

Team News

Yoëll van Nieff returns from suspension as the Islanders have their full squad available for selection ahead of the game against FC Goa.