After sharing spoils against Chennaiyin FC away from home, Mumbai City FC is set to host Punjab FC this Tuesday, November 26th at the Mumbai Football Arena in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. With 10 points in seven games, the club is sitting ninth in the table. Punjab FC, on the other hand, is currently fifth with 12 points to their name.
Ahead of the important clash, Mumbai City FC Coach Petr Kratky and defender Valpuia shed light upon the current form of their side, their next opponent and areas where the Islanders could improve as they look to move further up the league standings.
Speaking on the fixture against Punjab FC, Head Coach Petr Kratky said, “We have a clear understanding of how they are going to play. They are a very tough opponent so we have to turn up from the first minute and ensure we are ready to go out there and play.” He further added, “We are aware of their strengths but we are also aware of what we can do on the pitch so we are confident.”
Mumbai City FC is on a five-match unbeaten streak, however, three of them have been a draw. The Islanders have drawn four games this season, the highest by any team and when asked upon his thoughts on converting the draws to wins, Kratky replied, “Of course, we don’t want to draw, but we haven’t lost a game in a while which is very positive for the team. We do want to win and hence we are looking at how we can score more than the opposition and win three points.”
Mumbai City FC has a tough set of matches coming up in quick succession as the Islanders play two games at home and one away in the next two weeks. With regards to the busy calendar and challenging fixtures coming ahead, Kratky said, “We are in a good place with our players in terms of fitness. But this will also be an opportunity for other players to get game-time and show their quality.” He later added, “It is not about the starting eleven but also about the whole squad and hence everyone needs to be ready and fill the gaps.”
Valpuia has been regularly starting games and is a crucial part of Mumbai City FC’s backline. When asked about his opinion on the team’s performances so far, Valpuia replied, “We need to improve a lot defensively and not give away easy goals. We are learning from our mistakes from every match and the team is improving with every passing week.”
Valpuia recently made his debut for the Indian national team and is hoping to carry that momentum into his next outing as well. Kratky highlighted the importance of helping players get national team call-ups when he said, “It is important for every team to provide an environment for its players to get better and play for their country. We try our best to grow our players and we are responsible for providing players to the national team.”
Where to Watch
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm IST on Tuesday, 26th 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
