Mumbai City FC are set to face Jamshedpur FC in their second match of the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. After sharing points with Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their season opener, the Islanders are eager to secure a win tomorrow, as emphasized by Head Coach Petr Kratky.
“We are confident, while we know the quality of Jamshedpur FC, we’re here to win," said Kratky, addressing the team's mindset ahead of the match. “There’s no fear because we trust in our own abilities. We are fully aware of their strengths, but I believe in my squad and our players, and I’m confident we can secure a victory tomorrow,” he added.
Shedding light on how the team copes with the pressure of away matches, Kratky said, “I wouldn't call it pressure I see it more as a challenge that we need to face on a daily basis as a football club and team. Last season, we played in many stadiums, including Kolkata, with crowds of 60,000 to 70,000. That is part of football. What we aim to achieve here is to make the atmosphere a bit quieter tomorrow with our performance and by scoring more goals. However, it's always better to play at home in front of our fans; and we are looking forward to it.”
Discussing the team’s composition this season, which features a mix of young talents and experienced international players, Kratky stated, “It’s crucial to have experienced players like Mehtab and those coming from overseas. They help guide the younger ones, showing them what football is about and how to develop both as players and as individuals. At the end of the day, we’re here to support everyone and help them represent this country proudly.”
Reflecting on Mumbai’s first match of the season, Mehtab Singh said, “In our last game, we did well to come back in the second half. We learned a lot from that encounter and are looking to improve on our mistakes from last week.”
On his partnership with centre-back Tiri, Krouma and goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa, the 26-year-old added, “We have a great understanding of each other, which is why our defense feels strong. We’re familiar with each other’s positioning, making it easy to coordinate and cover for one another.”
As a senior member of the squad, Mehtab also spoke about his role in helping new signings and younger players settle in. “It’s important to help players understand our style of football, whether it’s our build-up play or finishing, and ensure they feel comfortable within the team environment. With the younger players, we try to guide them and encourage more communication,” he said.
