Mumbai City FC are set to host Kerala Blasters FC in their third home game of the season at the Mumbai City Football Arena this Sunday. The Islanders are coming off their first victory of the season against FC Goa, followed by a hard-fought draw at home against Odisha FC. Ahead of this fixture, Head Coach Petr Kratky and midfielder Jon Toral emphasized the importance of consistency and building on their recent momentum.
As the team approaches this match, they currently hold 6 points from five games. Head Coach Kratky commented, "Look, it’s not ideal, to be honest. We need to improve our standards. It’s been a very slow start to the season, but on a positive note, we’re seeing some improvement. You know, we’re getting better and better, which I believe shows a bright future ahead of us."
Looking ahead to the clash with Kerala Blasters, Kratky stated, “I think it will be a very good game. You know, Kerala are improving game by game, and I believe it’ll be exciting to watch. We’re preparing accordingly for that. We’re expecting a tough opponent, but our training and preparation have been good, so we’re looking forward to it."
Mirroring these views, Toral, the 29-year-old attacking midfielder, expressed, “It’ll be a tough one again, but we’re playing at home. We’re going in with the same mentality as last Sunday to get the three points. And like the coach said, we’ve had a very good week of work to go and get those three points."
Regarding the areas of focus for Kratky’s squad, the coach added, “We’re focusing on this weekend. As I said before, we need to focus on every single area because each one is important. All areas of our football need to improve, and they are improving slowly, so we’re happy with that. But again, we’ll have to keep focusing on every area."
In their last outing, Mumbai City FC played to a 1-1 draw against Odisha FC, a match that also marked Toral’s first home game of the season. The Spaniard praised the electric atmosphere at the Mumbai City Football Arena, saying, “It’s been great playing here, my first game at home. I think it’s time we give them a win at home—that’s the main point, because they deserve it. They’ve been behind us for the last two games, and I’m sure they will be again tomorrow. So, I can’t wait to see them again and hopefully give them that."
On adjusting to the weather conditions, Toral noted, "It’s tough. I need to adapt quickly. I knew about the humidity before coming to India, so it’s not a surprise. I felt physically good in the last game, so hopefully I can continue that and get stronger and stronger as the games go on."
Where to Watch
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm IST on Sunday ,3rd November 2024 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
