Mumbai City FC: A New Strategy, Same Ambitions
Mumbai City FC is in a remarkable position leading into their opening clash against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the new ISL season. Notable is their transitioning nature following the departure of some big names during the summer, changing their composition drastically. But, as one can expect from a side of their stature, the targets remain the same: aiming for a successful run in the cup and league.
Among the big names that exited are Rahul Bheke and Apuia Ralte, plus Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Alberto Noguera. Diaz's exit leaves an especially gaping hole in the team; having scored 21 goals and provided seven assists in 37 ISL appearances for Mumbai City.
Petr Kratky, last season's manager, successfully spread goals and game responsibilities among the team, with Lallianzuala Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh stepping up. In fact, under Kratky's supervision, Diaz only struck the net four times in 11 matches. In contrast, Chhangte and Vikram scored nine and eight times respectively.
This summer, Mumbai City FC has undergone a shift in their recruitment strategy. They've replaced Noguera and Diaz with Jon Toral and Nikos Karelis, adding greater depth to their attack. Additionally, they've integrated Brandon Fernandes, an impressive creative player, and a promising young talent Ayush Chhikara into their squad. This reconfiguration of the team marks a new approach for Mumbai City, who previously mostly recruited overseas players from other ISL teams.
Despite these changes, Coach Petr Kratky's ambitions remain lofty, aiming to win the coveted ISL league shield and cup double, a feat they missed narrowly in the past two seasons. Kratky expressed confidence in Toral and Karelis becoming instrumental in realizing this goal.
After a broken potential move to Arsenal at 16, Karelis seized the opportunity to embrace a new footballing culture in India. He echoed a similar sentiment of alignment with Mumbai City's style of play, as did Toral. With Mumbai City's revamped squad and unwavering ambitions, they promise an exciting season ahead.
