NorthEast, Mumbai look to get back to winning ways

A matchup between two wounded teams, the game between NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC in Guwahati on Friday has a lot riding on for both teams. Both the sides are just outside the top-four and neither can afford a loss if they are to entertain any hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals in the Hero Indian Super League.

Published : Nov 20, 2015 00:08 IST , Chennai

NorthEast United FC lost to Kerala Blasters 4-1 at home and Mumbai City FC were hammered 7-0 by FC Goa in their previous games.
NorthEast United FC lost to Kerala Blasters 4-1 at home and Mumbai City FC were hammered 7-0 by FC Goa in their previous games.
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NorthEast United FC lost to Kerala Blasters 4-1 at home and Mumbai City FC were hammered 7-0 by FC Goa in their previous games.

A matchup between two wounded teams, the game between NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC in Guwahati on Friday has a lot riding on for both teams. Both the sides are just outside the top-four and neither can afford a loss if they are to entertain any hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals in the Hero Indian Super League.

NorthEast United FC lost to Kerala Blasters 1-4 at home and Mumbai City FC were hammered 7-0 by FC Goa in their previous games as they look to bounce back in a 11th round clash.

“All teams in the ISL are very hungry and need wins, except for Goa. Every team is in the hunt for victories and that will make games very emotional. Teams who make the best of such emotions will emerge victorious. As we reach the final stretch, every game is decisive,” NorthEast United coach Cesar Farias said at the pre-match media briefing.

NorthEast United are slightly better placed at fifth with 13 points from 10 matches while Mumbai City are in the sixth position with 12 points from 10 matches.

Mumbai City lost by a record margin in the last game but Farias seemed more sympathetic.

“Mumbai had three days rest after their last game and Goa had nine days. You can see the difference and how the player performs. Against Kerala (Blasters), we played after three tough away matches. We had also played a match in tough conditions (in Chennai). These are small details but have a big impact on the performance,” said the former Venezuela manager.

Mumbai City FC marquee player-manager Nicolas Anelka did not mince words about his team’s shambolic performance against Goa.

“Everything was wrong. I watched the game this morning; we did not do anything to win the game. We did not even try to do something. 7-0 was fair (result),” said Anelka.

Fortunately for Mumbai City FC they have hardly any time to ponder on their loss as the crucial clash against NorthEast comes soon enough.

“I look at this as a good opportunity because we do not have to think too much about the game. We have to concentrate on the next game. It will be good only if we comeback with a result. If we lose, it will be worse than the loss against Goa. It’s good to play straightway,” said the former Chelsea and Real Madrid striker.

Anelka confirmed that Haitian international Sony Norde will rejoin the team tomorrow but said he had not made up his mind whether he would field the midfielder straightway.

“I am not planning to do anything different tomorrow. I tried to do a lot of things on the pitch. I tried against Goa in the second half and conceded five goals. I tried against Kolkata in second half and conceded three goals. I tried in pre-season as well in Dubai. Now is not the time to try and find the tactic,” said Anelka.

A win for either of the two teams may still not be good enough to jump to the fourth spot because both have negative goal-difference. While NorthEast United have a goal difference of minus seven, Mumbai are at minus six.

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