AGENCIES
MUMBAI
Mumbai City FC and Delhi Dynamos FC have already secured qualification to Indian Super League playoffs but the two top teams in the league could still provide plenty of entertainment at Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, on Saturday.
When the two teams met in the first leg in Delhi, they played a high scoring 3-3 draw with plenty of twists. As they battle again in the second leg, Mumbai City FC coach Alexandre Guimaraes believes goals will not be in short supply as they battle for the top spot.
“This can be an open game, like the one in Delhi. Like we saw yesterday night (between FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC) when teams are liberated, they can play without too much concern. I hope fans can go there and support our team and we can give them a good performance and a good game,” said Guimaraes.
Mumbai City FC are leading the table with 22 points and a point will be good enough for them to finish on top. They also have to play the crucial playoff next week but the Costa Rican coach said he does not have any intention of resting key players for battles ahead.
“We have to continue to do what we have done well. For us, no matter what, it’s an important game because we want to finish with the best points. This is good for the whole organisation and that is our objective tomorrow. I am not going to rest any player. The players who will play have to be 100 percent fit,” he said.
Delhi Dynamos were leading the ISL table for long spells and they can now finish on top if they can get the better of Mumbai City FC. In the last match against NorthEast United, Delhi Dynamos were not their usual self and coach Gianluca Zambrotta has asked his team to pull up their socks.
“Against NorthEast United, we played a very low-intensity game. I didn’t like the first part and the team’s reaction after conceding two goals. We have to work together and play with a lot more intensity. We must have a good attitude for this game and also semi-finals. We should play like we know,” said Zambrotta.
Zambrotta made no secret of the fact that they want to finish on top. “We want to win and try to be first in the league but it’s the same thinking that our opponents will have. We have done a good job until now and we are focused to finish the first part of the tournament in the best way. After that, we will prepare for the semi-finals and continue in the same manner,” said Zambrotta.
