After completing a comeback for the ages in the first leg of the semi-final in Goa, it is all down to the next 90 minutes – Mumbai City FC play FC Goa in Mumbai, and will be looking to lock in their place in the final of the Indian Super League. The Islanders, who lead the tie 3-2, will welcome back their Argentine forward Jorge Pereyra Diaz for the second leg. However, defender Akash Mishra will not be available for this game.
Speaking ahead of Monday’s crucial game, coach Petr Kratky said that he was very proud of the whole Mumbai City FC team. “This season has been unbelievable, all the players and all the staff have been fantastic, and I am very proud of all of them. Regardless of the result on Monday, we have had a solid season, there had been a couple of setbacks earlier, and we should be proud of the way we have handled ourselves,” he said in the pre-match press conference.
“Football is a hard place to be in sometimes, and what I really like about this group is that they stick together, whether it is hard times or good times. So, I am very proud of them.”
Jayesh Rane, the attacking midfielder, who has made very significant contributions for the Islanders this season, said, “We will just do the simple things well. We will stick to the plan and go for the win (against FC Goa), and they are a good team. Goa will come here to fight and we are ready for that.”
While the first-leg was a roller-coaster ride in terms of emotions and reactions, the Islanders will want to ensure an easier evening at the Mumbai Football Arena on Monday. “If we see the first-leg, we were losing 0-2 for 90 minutes, and we have been working on fixing that and how we can avoid such situations. FC Goa is a very good team, and we have to learn from the previous game and we have to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again. We will work on it and make it easier for the team to understand so that we can succeed.”
What helps a team rise above everything in the biggest of games, apart from tactics of course? Coach Kratky weighed in, saying, “I think it’s the attitude. We have to be switched on from the start. And we have to make sure our approach and attitude is the right one. We need to start very well and keep going and finish very well. It is about the mind set and sticking to our processes and doing it right and doing it quick. Be brave and believe in ourselves – and all the things we do usually.”
“We just have to go for it – that’s what I want from all our players and staff,” he signed off.
