Image Courtesy: Indian Super League Media Team
Being dubbed as the Metro Derby, the match between Mumbai City FC and Delhi Dynamos FC, although is between two teams that are on different spectrum of the form chart, and the Indian Super League (ISL) table.
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While Delhi are sitting pretty at the top, with the same number of points as FC Pune City (nine), Mumbai moved to the rock bottom of the league, after North East United FC defeated Chennaiyin FC, on Tuesday, to go two points clear of the west-coast side. This leaves Mumbai as the only team that is yet to win a match in the ISL, this season.
Meanwhile, Delhi have been soaring high, after an initial loss to FC Goa, in their first match of the season. in coac Roberto Carlosa men bucked-up, and got their act together. Now, Delhi are on a three-match unbeaten run, and could find themselves at the top of the ISL table (temporarily at least).
However, one big problem that Delhi might face, is fatigue, as they had just two days to recover from a grueling match against Kerala Blasters FC, where they left it till late, to snatch the winner.
The style of football that Delhi plays however, could actually help them, as they can sit back, and hit Mumbai on the counter. Mumbai, who are coached by former Chelsea FC forward Nicolas Anelka, play the possession game, and this could end up suiting them, in the end.
a We have had control in the games till now. In the first two games, we created many chances that we didna t convert but in the third game, that was not the scenario,” Mumbai assistant coach Oscar Bruzon was quoted saying, in an ISL press release. “Tomorrow, we are going to come back and find our identity, at home. Wea re going fight for control of the ball, create chances and from there, combat them.
“Theya re being effective in a way opposite to us. We are good with possession, but not conversion. And theya re not interested in possession, but going up front. They dona t need to create a lot of chances to convert. And this is something that wea ll have to analyse and see,a he further said.
Asked about their reserved style of play, Delhi assistant coach Raman Vijayan said, “Thata s a different strategy with us. We are a very organised side, be it the defensive or the attacking side. As a team, we stick to small passes and we have developed a new style of playing with (a nice) understanding between foreigners and Indian players. Roberto (Carlos) helped develop the attitudes of players. Winning is the big deal, so far away games, we are really enjoying it.a
With Mumbai City FC needing to win this match, to stay alive, and Delhi Dynamos FC fighting to take top spot, this game promises to be a rather enterprising one. To add to that the two contrasting styles of play are sure to add more flavour to an already charged Metro Derby.