It has been yet another bad season for Mumbai City FC manager Nicolas Anelka and the Frenchman was the first to admit that the 2015 season has been a failure, as his club have been unable to qualify for the semi final spots.
All has not been happy at the Mumbai City FC camp this season, with Anelka suggesting last week that he was not able to sign the players that he wanted to. However, as Mumbai’s hopes of qualifying for the semi final playoffs vanished in a rain-soaked 3-0 loss at Chennaiyin FC, Anelka took the responsibility for the bad showing.
“When you have a target, and your target is to finish in the top four, and you do not finish in the top four, of course you fail,” said Anelka in the post match press conference. “Thata s why I said last week, I am with principle of results, and of course I am the first one to admit that [it] was not good enough.
“I dona t know why [the mid-season slump happened], I think the players tried their best, but it was difficult. Like I said, I cana t explain. But a lot of stuff happened just before the second part of the ISL, so we are here today,” he further said.
Anelka not complaining about the pitch
Chennai has been hit quite hard with the recent downpour, with half the coastal city being under water. The torrential downpour affected the match too, as the pitch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium seemed to be full of puddles.
While Chennaiyin FC made full use of these puddles, Mumbai city FC fell victim to them more than once, as the home team’s forward Stiven Mendoza read the unpredictable movements of the ball perfectly, in the puddles.
One particular puddle in front of Mumbai goalkeeper Subrata Paul directly aided the second goal, as the ball abruptly stopped, while rolling its way towards the India international. Jeje Lalpekhlua was at hand to chip it over the baffled keeper, but questions over the pitch still remained. However, Anelka did not seem to have any complaints about the pitch.
“It was a little difficult to play in the beginning, but like you said, second half was better,” said Anelka. “The pitch was the same for both of the teams, so therea s nothing special to say about the pitch.”
Mendoza can play in the Premier League if he improves, says Anelka
Chennaiyin FC striker Stiven Mendoza has been a revelation this season, becoming the highest scorer in the league so far, with 11 goals. The Colombian was again rampant against Mumbai City Fc, opening the scoring on the ninth minute.
Anelka believes that the striker is good enough to play in the Premier League, or at least in Europe.
“The Premier League is not the same level, ita s harder, its faster, its stronger, so he will have to adapt. But Ia m sure hea s good quality to play in Europe,” said Anelka. “He showed it last season, he showed it this season as well, and I hope for him, he will go in the Premier League, because I will be happy to see him scoring goals.”
Image Courtesy: ISL . Media Team