Delhi Dynamos host Mumbai City FC in an exciting clash, with both teams vying for three points to further their Hero Indian Super League ambitions.
Roberto Carlosa Delhi Dynamos welcome Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, to kickoff their return leg of the league stages in the Hero Indian Super League on Friday, but will be determined to dethrone FC Goa from the top spot.
Delhi Dynamos, who are level on points with FC Pune City, trail behind the Stallions with an inferior goal difference, but have a chance to usurp them when they play their Round 8 match on Friday, against the Islanders. The Lions, who are hunting for the top spot, will need to come out roaring against sixth placed Mumbai City FC as they look to thin the pack chasing them for a spot in the semi-finals.
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Delhi Dynamos marquee player cum manager Roberto Carlos sounded pretty ambitious during the press conference, as he respectfully reiterated his ambition of moving to the top of the table.
a Mumbai City is a good team but our goal is to get above Pune. Ita s important for us to win and stay at the top,a Carlos said during the pre-match media briefing.
Carlos a a defender of some repute- seemed unperturbed about Delhi Dynamosa inability to find the back of the net or about having lost to Mumbai City FC in Round 5. Carlos while answering the question regarding their lack of goals, seems to also have hinted out some teams news by mentioning the name of Adil Nabi, who is on loan from the English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.
a I am not worried because we are top of the table. The goals will come at the right moment. Players like Gadze, Nabi, Robin know to score and will score when they have to. May be tomorrow my strikers will score two goals each.a
Mumbai City FC assistant coach Oscar Bruzon, having heard about the slight disregard of his side from their opponents, has declared war against the rest of the team by divulging their ambitions in the return leg.
a All of us are ready to win the war. We have seven games to finish and we are targeting 10 points. If we have 20 points, we will qualify. If we cannot, we will be out of the competition.a
Mumbai City may be placed sixth in the standings but are level on points with Atletico de Kolkata, who currently hold the last of the spots for the playoffs. The Islanders were forced to end the first leg of the league with a hammering from the defending champions, as Bruzon admitted overconfidence led to their downfall.
a In the last game, we were a little bit overconfident and ATK were a much better team than us. We analysed everything. Their fighting spirit was better than us. Ita s true we defeated Delhi in our home game but that battle is finished. The new battle is tomorrow.a
The Spaniard billed the clash against Delhi Dynamos as of a maximum importancea with Mumbai City all set to miss the service of their star players Sunil Chhetri and Sony Norde next week due to international commitments.
Image Courtesy: ISL Media