Preview & Prediction: Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC
In the 2022 Durand Cup, the Islanders will face the Marina Machans in an all-ISL quarterfinal match. In the third quarterfinal encounter of the Durand Cup 2022, Mumbai City FC will face Chennaiyin FC. The Islanders won two of their three group games, while Chennayin FC was the last club to qualify for the quarter-finals. The Islanders and Marina Machans, two ISL heavyweights, will meet for the first time outside of the Indian Super League.
The Islanders were in near-perfect form in the group rounds, winning 5-1 and 4-1 against Rajasthan United FC and The Indian Navy Team, respectively. Des Buckingham’s team drew 1-1 with ATK Mohun Bagan, while the Islanders’ sole setback came against East Bengal in a nail-biting match that ended 4-3.
That feeling before your maiden Quarterfinal appearance in the Durand Cup! 😁#DurandCup2022 #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/nbR7VaPr8H
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 10, 2022
Chennaiyin FC, on the other side, had an almost identical run in the group stages of the 131st Durand Cup to Mumbai City FC. The Marina Machans won their group stage games against TRAU and NEROCA, 4-1 and 2-0, respectively, with their lone defeat coming against defending ISL winners Hyderabad FC, which they lost 3-1, as well as a 2-2 draw against Army Red.
Des Buckingham has announced that Mourtada Fall and Rowllin Borges will both play in tomorrow’s Quarterfinal match against Chennaiyin FC.
🗣 “Chennaiyin will be a tough challenge for us, but one we’ll be ready for..” 💪
We sat down with Des Buckingham as he sheds light on the #DurandCup2022 campaign so far, facing Chennaiyin FC next and #TheIslanders’ targets 🎙#MCFCCFC #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 @DesBuckingham pic.twitter.com/zpJtnexF6L
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 10, 2022
Coach Des Buckingham stated at a news conference prior to the quarterfinal match against Chennaiyin FC, “So far in the Durand Cup 2022, we have sought to grow better and build over the campaign.”
Buckingham went on to say, “We spoke about picking up from where we left off the (AFC) Champions League and both results and performance wise, I certainly felt in the first three games that we did that, so we put ourselves in a strong position to top the group. We were able to make sure we managed our group well and gave our players opportunities to play and made sure we arrived into the quarterfinal without suspensions and potential injuries, which I’m pleased to say we haven’t. So, it’s all about getting better.”
Des Buckingham commented on the game against Chennaiyin FC and The Islanders’ preparations, saying, “This is going to be a good game for us against a very powerful ISL squad. But we’re excited about it. It’s wonderful for us to play these competitive games while we’re still in pre-season, while simultaneously striving to do well in this tournament.”
“We travelled out to witness Chennaiyin FC’s last group game (in Imphal), so we definitely did a lot of work and observed them,” he continued. “We’re trying to wrap our heads around how they play and what they’re doing. We’ve done everything we can to prepare ourselves. We know we’ll be up against a difficult team that has been well-assembled. Their recruitment has been superb, in my opinion. But we’ve done everything we can to emphasise locations where we believe they’re strong and how we can mitigate them. We’ve also identified several areas where we may gain an edge.”
Des Buckingham finished by discussing Mumbai City FC’s approach to games for the next season as well as the ongoing Durand Cup. “I’m thrilled for tournament football, like one should be. We don’t modify our approach to how we want to achieve things, whether in the league, the group stages of this competition, or the knockout stages. We have a system in place for both on and off the field. We feel our standards are quite high, and what we want from the players and staff here is constant.”
He concluded the news conference by adding, “I’ve been in high performance sport long enough to know that if you can stay consistent to those high standards, you tend to do well more often than not. You hope that if you do well, the results will follow.”
Historically, the Islanders and Marina Machans fought each other 16 times in the ISL, with Mumbai City FC winning seven times and Chennayin capturing six. This is the first time the teams will meet in the Durand Cup.
Ready for tomorrow's challenge! 💪🏻🔥#AllInForChennaiyin #MCFCCFC #DurandCup pic.twitter.com/JlKx78YGBA
— Chennaiyin F.C. (@ChennaiyinFC) September 10, 2022
“We’ll do our best to defend. Football is a game of blunders, and whoever capitalises on these errors will win,” CFC head coach Brdaric remarked during a pre-match news conference.
“We’ll strive not to give our opponents too many chances tomorrow, giving them room and holes to operate.” At the same time, we shall endeavour to take use of our own opportunities. We should be properly prepared.”
🗣️ "I'm playing in a more advanced position, which gives me the freedom to score goals and, to get inside the box a lot more."@AnirudhThapa ahead of our quarterfinal against Mumbai City FC.#AllInForChennaiyin #DurandCup2022 #MCFCCFC pic.twitter.com/q70bsRszmH
— Chennaiyin F.C. (@ChennaiyinFC) September 10, 2022
Thapa has been an important performer for Chennaiyin. He has scored two goals and assisted on three others. “Nothing has altered significantly in my game,” Thapa remarked of his role in the side. Just that I’m playing in a more advanced position, which allows me to score goals and play more inside the box. Aside from that, I’ve been working really hard. I’m doing my best to assist the squad score more goals.”
Match preview: Quarterfinal against Mumbai City FC. 🗒️⬇️#AllInForChennaiyin #MCFCCFC #DurandCup2022
— Chennaiyin F.C. (@ChennaiyinFC) September 10, 2022
“We are a young and new crew. We needed some playing time to get acquainted to the new system and the different ways each person plays. We finally have the competitive matchups that we required. We’ve been doing quite well overall. We scored several terrific goals, and the greatest part is that they were scored by various players. The players are prepared for the encounter against Mumbai City, and we are hoping for a nice game. Everyone is looking forward to the quarterfinals,” he continued to add.
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium – Salt Lake Stadium, will host the Durand Cup 2022 Quarterfinal match between Mumbai City and Chennaiyin FC. The game will begin at 6 p.m on 11 September 2022.