Mumbai City FC head into their final game of the regular season against Bengaluru FC on Tuesday at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, where securing at least one point will confirm their place in the playoffs.
Despite Mumbai City needing just one point to qualify and the reverse fixture ending as a goalless draw, Head Coach Petr Kratky made it clear that his team will not play for a draw. "I never play for the draw. I don't think it's a good mentality. I think we need to go try to play good football and be aggressive to try to win the game. So for me, the approach is always the same. We have to go there and fight."
Emphasizing the importance of recovery ahead of the game, Kratky stated, "Because of the short turnaround, it's more about the recovery and being fresh for the last game of the regular season. It's all about recovery, good food, good sleep, and the readiness for the next game."
Looking ahead to the challenge posed by Bengaluru FC, Kratky acknowledged their quality, he said, "We have one more opportunity, and we need to be ready because Bengaluru FC are a good team and have great quality. They are in the finals for a reason, so we have to be switched on and fight for the points."
Speaking on Bengaluru FC’s defensive strength, Lallianzuala Chhangte noted, "Bengaluru FC are a very strong side, especially defensively. They have a lot of players who have good physical attributes, which would be very hard to break down, but we have our strengths as well. We have to find space in the pockets and for me, of course, this is more than just a game, we have to give everything for this last fight."
Reflecting on the 0-1 defeat to Kerala Blasters on Friday, Kratky stressed the need for more energy and intensity, "I wasn't happy with the intent, with the energy. It looked like we were flat. We tried to adjust it at half-time and there was a reaction, but again, for me, we need to be better. It's not about football sometimes. Yes, we can play, we can keep possession, but we need to fight, we need to get energy, and we need to go for it. That's the only way you can achieve things, you need to be brave and work very hard."
Speaking on the challenging season that has unfolded, the captain added, "I think this season has been one of the most challenging seasons for me and the entire team as well. But we were in worse situations than this one, and we always managed to overcome them. I strongly believe we will overcome them again."
With the stakes high, Chhangte also spoke about handling pressure in crucial moments: "Pressure is a part of the game, and I always try to be aggressive. Of course, you can't control emotions every time, but you've got to find a way to control the pressure and the expectations at the same time. I think it's important to believe in your ability and the team's ability, and we know, together, we always find a way to handle pressure and get a better result out of it."
Where to Watch
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm IST on Tuesday 11th March, 2025 and will be broadcast on Sports 18 and Jio Cinema. For our global fans, you can find your broadcaster at www.indiansuperleague.com/broadcasters or follow all the action LIVE on our official Twitter account - @MumbaiCityFC
