Mumbai: Bolstered by the arrival of India captain Sunil Chhetri and three other national team players, Mumbai City FC would look to consolidate their position at the top of the points table when they take on FC Pune City in an ISL-3 game here Thursday.
Besides Chhetri, his Bengaluru FC teammates Udanta Singh, Amrinder Singh and Lalchhuanmawia Fanai have joined the Mumbai squad after playing in the final of the AFC Cup against Air Force Club of Iraq in Doha last week.
Mumbai are leading the table with 15 points from nine matches but head coach Alexandre Guimaraes said Wednesday his team still has work to do before reaching their first target of making it to knock-out stage.
“We cannot fall into this trap that we are almost there. We have a good chance and we have to keep going and never lose focus,” said Guimaraes.
Asked specifically if any of the four Bengaluru FC players will be handed a starting role Thursday, the coach was noncommittal. “They are hungry to be in the squad and be part of this Mumbai City season. We are glad to have them with us. That makes the group much bigger and gives me resources and possibilities with which players to start. It is a blessing for us,” said the Costa Rican coach.
There can be no doubt that Guimaraes could be tempted to hand Chhetri a place in the starting XI as the striker has been in good form in the AFC Cup.
Press Trust of India