I-League: Bengaluru, Mumbai in needle clash

Bengaluru: Two teams will vie to reclaim the summit of the I-League standings when Bengaluru FC welcome metro rivals Mumbai FC in a top half clash at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday evening. Both teams have achieved perfect starts to their respective campaigns, with the Blues leading the Mumbaikars only on goal difference, and look to pull level on points with early pace-setters Mohun Bagan.

Coming into this clash with his team in brilliant form, Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca acknowledged that the match would be anything but easy for the Blues. “This is a team that is mentally strong after two wins. So we are ready for a hard battle. They have enough talent to put us in trouble and they will try it. But we are ready for that,” said Roca addressing the press on the eve of the game.

Mumbai City have earned plaudits early on in the season for bagging results with a completely home-grown squad, and their strengths will be put to the test against an iron-clad Bengaluru defence that is yet to concede in the campaign.

‘Exciting game on cards’
The new man at Mumbai’s helm, Santosh Kashyap indicated that his respect for the defending champions would not inhibit their natural style of play. “I am a coach who loves to play attacking football and Bengaluru FC too like to come out and play and I’m sure we will have a very exciting game of football tomorrow.” Since the inception of the Garden City club in 2013, they have faced the Mumbaikars six times. The head-to-head statistics indicate closely fought contests, with only a single win for each side; the other four fixtures have ended in stalemates.

When asked about whether his nationalistic outfit would be able to cope with the intensity of a season without foreign recruits, particularly in a high-stakes game of such magnitude, ex-Salgaocar coach Kashyap exuded confidence. “I believe in my Indian players. They are proving themselves.”

Watson back in the mix
His counterpart Roca could welcome back holding midfielder Cameron Watson for the major fixture after the Australian was kept on bench owing to a stomach bug in the 2-0 win over Chennai City FC.

The Spaniard also underscored the tactical importance of countering Mumbai’s pacy assets with patience and solidity. “They have a lot of pace and will look to take advantage of it. Our philosophy is to build the game from behind. We always take risks, but we will not change the way we play in order to win the title again,” Roca concluded.