The atmosphere in Mumbai City FC is very good for any youngster, says Franklin Nazareth

Lallianzuala Chhangte praised coach Des Buckingham

Defending ISL Shield winners, Mumbai City FC have been one of the most consistent sides in Indian football. Besides fighting for the ISL trophy, the Islanders will also represent India in the AFC Champions League. The club will look to hold on to their game to maintain success in the league and fight against Asian giants like Neymar's Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League.

Mumbai City FC, had an impeccable 2022-23 season. As the new ISL season approaches this month, their coach Des Buckingham, joined by his players Rahul Bheke, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rostyn Griffiths, and the emerging talent Franklin Nazareth directed attention towards several key aspects, including the team's dedicated fan base and participation in the AFC Champions League.

Strong Support from The Islanders' fan base

The recent strong showings by Mumbai City FC have certainly generated a positive atmosphere among Mumbai's football enthusiasts. Coach Des Buckingham shared his thoughts on the robust backing received from the Islanders' fan base, which is a common trend among many clubs.

He said, "This is my third season here and the growth of football across the clubs what it looks like, where the league may have been three or four years ago and what is now about how the clubs have set themselves up year upon year, how much better they are getting year upon year. What you have start to see is how players perform to the levels that we have start to see now, we have start to see more excitement in the game because of this(the fans)."

Lallianzuala Chhangte on Des Buckingham

Lallianzuala Chhangte has truly stood out as a remarkable player for Mumbai City FC. Prior to the start of the season, Mumbai City's coach, Des Buckingham, mentioned that his coaching team had dedicated efforts to enhance Chhangte's performance in the attacking third. This was crucial as the winger had only managed to score five goals in the previous two ISL seasons. The results of this hard work became evident during the 2022-23 ISL season, where Chhangte delivered an impressive tally of ten goals for Mumbai City and contributed with six assists.

Chhangte was immensely grateful to Head Coach Des Buckingham for believing in him and giving him an opportunity to shine, "He(Des Buckingham) has been playing an important role building me in a player like this, because he trust me in my abilities and from the first time I met him he has been helpful and to provide help in whatever I need."

Playing with Superstars and under Des Buckingham is a Spectacular feeling: Franklin Nazareth

Franklin initially developed his skills with his local team, FC Pune City, before catching the attention of RFYC in 2019, following his participation in the RFYS National School Championship. He is a formidable defensive midfielder known for his excellent positioning and impressive passing abilities. Franklin has the knack for receiving the ball effectively in various scenarios and advancing it, and he also excels at intercepting passes and disrupting opposing team's offensive plays.

He discussed how he feels playing with such superstars and under head coach Des Buckingham. "The atmosphere in Mumbai City FC is very good for any youngster that comes. The Foreign and Indian senior players help the player to get settled in quickly, so it is a very good environment to be in."

Back to Back Games in ISL and AFC Champions League

Rahul Bheke provided insight into how Mumbai City FC intends to handle the challenge of consecutive matches in both the ISL and the AFC Champions League. "The key point will be the recoveries and rest we will be taking in between the games."

Des Buckingham Highlights Uncertainty over Asian Games and the mood of the Camp

The Asian Games have generated quite a buzz within the Indian football community. A disagreement has arisen between the AIFF and the clubs due to the AIFF's proposal to keep players in Thailand before sending them directly to China for the Asian Games, a plan that did not sit well with the clubs. Nonetheless, Buckingham did acknowledge that representing the national team is a source of immense pride for every player. "We have to prepare with what we have at the moment. It's been two years I have been here and we have been hugely supportive of the national team. It's important for players to get the opportunity to represent the national team."

Talking about the mood of the camp, he stated, "Players want to play games regardless of whether it's the Champions League or the ISL. They want to play, and want to demonstrate on what they can do. The mood is good. We have everyone coming from tomorrow back in and ready to go."

The main Competition in the ISL

This ISL season consist of 12 teams. When asked which teams are Mumbai's main competition Des answered, "Every single one of them!!" in a hilarious way. He also emphasized that the upcoming season holds significant importance.