Mumbai City FC head south to take on Kerala Blasters in their penultimate league match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday. Ahead of the fixture, head coach Petr Kratky lauded the team’s fighting spirit and emphasised that their priority was to finish the season with as many points as possible.
The Islanders remain in contention for a third-place finish in the regular season, which will avail the home advantage in the playoffs, but securing just one point from their next two matches will confirm their playoff berth.
Speaking on the team’s motivation to secure the third place on the table, Kratky said, “That’s what we want. We want to finish as high as we can. Every game still counts, and every point matters. So, we will try our best to finish as high as possible and secure home advantage.”
The last time the Islanders took the field, they showed remarkable grit to come back from two goals down and salvage a draw, despite playing most of the second half with ten men. Praising the team’s resilience and the role of the fans, Kratky said, “This is the quality we have in the changing room. I was very pleased to see the team bring it out, fight for each other, and push until the end. This is what we look for in every game. It was a great team performance, with great spirit.
He further added, “The fans played a big part in that. We felt powerful at the end, even with one man down, thanks to the fans who pushed us, especially after the first goal. We could feel that energy, and it was fantastic. But we need to carry this spirit through the season, from the first game to the last.”
Reflecting on the season, he added, “Every season is different. We want to win every game, fight for every point. This season is different from the last, so we have to dig deeper. But as I said before, we're really getting better, our togetherness, understanding, and fighting spirit are improving. I'm very positive about the future of this team. It's a journey. If I reflect, it's been a tough season, but we have to keep working hard and pushing until the end.”
Prabir Das, who is on loan from Kerala Blasters, will step into familiar territory on Friday. Looking ahead to the encounter, he said, “As a professional, I am a Mumbai City player, and I will give my everything here. Yes, Kerala is not an easy place to go and play football, it will not be an easy game at all. But even though we need just one point to qualify, our aim is always to win matches. I think we might be peaking at the right time.”
Reflecting on his role in the team, Das acknowledged that competition for places drives individual growth. “There is a lot of competition for positions, and that is the case in all good teams. But we have great bonding in the dressing room, and we all help each other learn and grow. It has been a great experience to be a part of a champion team like this, and I am grateful to the management for bringing me in.”
With 20 appearances for Mumbai City FC this season, Yoell Van Nieff has been an integral part of the squad. Highlighting his importance, Kratky said, “He's been great for the team this season. Every time he plays, he makes a difference, he fights, and I think he's getting better and better as the season goes on. He's very important, and personally, I would love to see him continue with Mumbai City.”
Where to Watch
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm IST on Friday 7th 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
