Five things we have learned from Mumbai City FC’s games so far

The Islanders are yet to suffer a defeat this season.

Mumbai City FC are placed third on the Indian Super League (ISL) table, having collected eight points from four matches. The Islanders have defeated Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters while drawing a game each against Hyderabad FC and Jamshedpur FC.

Des Buckingham’s men have begun their campaign on a rather encouraging note and their next match will be against ATK Mohun Bagan at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) on Sunday. The former ISL champions had spent a considerable time at the top of the points table before slipping down out of the top-four spot last season.

Hence, they need to adopt a very cautious and consistent approach and not get carried away by the current momentum. On that note, let us explore five key learnings from the club’s games so far.

5. Mourtada Fall takes the backseat?

Having been one of the most decorated players in the history of the ISL, Mourtada Fall might just have to take a backseat in Buckingham’s best XI this year. The Islanders’ skipper started the season opener against Hyderabad but since then has been relegated to the bench for the subsequent three games.

The tactician has preferred to play Rostyn Griffiths at the centre of the backline if there is space for only one foreign defender. Fall made 41 league appearances for the Islanders ahead of this season and delivered solid performances in addition to scoring seven goals as well. However, the previous campaign highlighted obvious fault-lines in Mumbai’s backline that needed to be addressed.

They conceded the most number of goals (31) amongst the clubs that finished in the top-six. Buckingham possibly sees Griffiths as a more mobile alternative to Fall who could help them build their play up from the back. But it leads us to ponder, has the clock begun ticking on Mourtada Fall’s trophy-laden ISL career?

4. Chhangte’s goals add more bite to Mumbai’s attack

The head coach has reflected upon the work that was put behind improving Lallianzuala Chhangte’s finishing instincts in the last six months. The winger won the ‘Golden Boot’ for netting seven times in the Durand Cup 2022 and has started the ISL campaign on a bright note as well. He scored in the 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur and it was Chhangte’s shot that led to an erratic own goal against Odisha as well.

The 25-year-old has been a constant goal-threat with his dazzling runs on the flank and sharp deliveries inside the box. He has attempted nine shots and eight crosses in four appearances so far and has also contributed defensively with five tackles and six blocks to his name. He seems to be innately composed in and around the 18-yard box as his overall gameplay has uplifted tremendously since joining the Islanders.

Chhangte’s improved instincts actually allowed Mumbai City to play in the absence of an out-an-out striker like Diaz upfront in both their home games. Mumbai are certainly staring at a promising season ahead provided Chhangte manages to sustain this run of form.

3. Emergence of Mehtab Singh

Mehtab Singh’s imperious form is one of the key reasons that Buckingham has been able to field a playing XI without Fall. The 24-year-old has been adjudged as the ‘Man of the Match’ consecutively in the last three games. He has shown great awareness and tenacity defensively, and topped it with a fantastic goal against Kerala Blasters in the previous fixture.

Mehtab’s performances allow the head coach to induce greater dynamism and creativity by loading up an additional foreigner upfront or in the middle. The centre-back has been around the circuit for quite some time now. However, the way that he kicked off this season gives hopes that this might finally be a breakthrough campaign for him.

2. Optimizing potential of diverse portfolio of overseas players

Mumbai City certainly recruited very well in the summer by roping in established stars like Greg Stewart, Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Alberto Noguera along with Rostyn Griffiths. Three of them already have prior experience of featuring in the league. However, the diverse talents of Mumbai’s overseas stars this season arguably gives them greater flexibility to undertake different approaches and formations as per the threat posed.

The coach can opt to solidify the backline with the duo of Mourtada Fall and Griffiths or induce dynamism in the midfield by playing the pair of Noguera and Ahmed Jahouh together. He can also break either of these duplets to augment his forward line by fielding Diaz and Stewart in the same XI.

There are multiple permutations that can be tried out and almost all of them have delivered the desired outcomes so far this season. Jahouh and Noguera turned the game around versus Hyderabad and Odisha whereas Diaz made an impact with Stewart in Kochi. This factor is likely to tilt the scales in Mumbai City’s favours as the season progresses and more convoluted challenges start coming their way. 

1. Still some work to do against the top sides?

Des Buckingham expressed satisfaction at taking away a point each against Hyderabad and Jamshedpur given that the two sides won the ISL title and the League Winners’ Shield respectively last year. However, does that to an extent emanate a lack of ambition from Mumbai’s end? The Islanders cannot try and play down their potential and justify undesirable results against top-class opponents.

They won the double just over a year ago, evidently have a sizable transfer budget and have the backing of one of the most powerful footballing groups across the globe.

They under-performed last year but that does not absolve their fans of holding high expectations from the side considering the sheer depth and quality in the same this time around. Mumbai City did well to stage a comeback against Hyderabad but appeared to lacking their natural free-flowing rhythm and standard against Jamshedpur.

It is too early to look at the points table but those four missed points have already placed them a couple of points behind table-toppers Hyderabad FC. These minute battles for the coveted first-place finish often go down the wire and the Islanders don’t meet the Nizams again until late February.