Chennai: Chennaiyin FC have already qualified for the play-offs, but they would be eager to finish the league stage with a win as it will help the former champions avoid a formidable Bengaluru FC in the ISL-4 semi-finals. Chennaiyin who had to split points in their previous two league matches will take on Mumbai City FC at the Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
For Chennaiyin coach John Gregory, Saturday’s match presents two options — a platform to test his bench strength or go all out with his strongest squad to clinch maximum points out of the contest against a battered and bruised opponents.
The home team captain Henrique Sereno who has been instrumental in Chennaiyin’s stupendous run into play-offs is staring at his second suspension of the season having already collected seven yellow cards. The suspension looks inevitable as the Portuguese has penchant for picking up needless yellow cards. It is important for Gregory to decide when Sereno sits out.
“I will make one or two changes and give minutes to some of the guys who were on the bench or upstairs. They thoroughly deserve the chance. If they perform well enough and they fit into the system, I always have a (selection) headache (for the next game),” Gregory said.
The home team’s lone striker, Jeje Lalpehkua hasn’t found the back of the net in his last five matches. His teammates have done the job for him. The striker has often been left out up-field with not much connect to Chennaiyin’s game that relies heavily on its midfield.
Gregory would be pleased to have Brazilian Mailson Alves in his defensive line-up after he missed the previous match against Kerala Blasters due to suspension.
Mumbai City FC who are already out of the tournament would be keen to end the season on a high. When Chennaiyin met Mumbai last time, a penalty decided the fate of the contest.
