We hope Neymar recovers quickly, Mumbai City FC coach Des Buckingham ahead of AFC Champions League clash

Mumbai City FC aim for their first points

Mumbai City FC are gearing up for a showdown of epic proportions against one of the AFC Champions League's powerhouses, Al Hilal. As things stand, the Islanders find themselves at the bottom of the AFC Champions League 2023-24, while their Saudi rivals are perched comfortably at the top.

Des Buckingham's squad hasn't exactly sparkled in the first two matches of their ACL campaign, and the challenge doesn't get any easier when they face Al Hilal. What makes it even more intriguing is that Al Hilal will be without the services of Neymar Jr. for this encounter. It's a test of Mumbai City FC's mettle, a chance to rise from the ashes and prove their worth against the mighty Al Hilal.

Let’s take a look at what head coach Des Buckingham and player Lallianzuala Chhangte have to say ahead of the match:

The mood and preparations in the camp

The Islanders are on the verge of what could be the toughest game in their history. Al Hilal is a formidable opponent with a rich legacy, having clinched the AFC Champions League title four times in their storied history. They are hungry for a fifth championship this season, making the challenge even more daunting for Mumbai City FC. 

“The mood is good. Arguably it is the toughest game. It’s obviously a very big scene, with very big players. My players want to play against the best and this team certainly gives the opportunity.” Des Buckingham highlighted the quality of Al Hilal.

The coach also addressed the preparations. He said, “We will try and do what we can. That’s what I can ask of my players. We will approach the game in a very similar manner.” 

Neymar’s injury

The Brazilian magician suffered an unfortunate injury against Uruguay during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers and will not feature against Mumbai City FC on Monday at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Des Buckingham expressed that Neymar's injury was unfortunate. He also highlighted, “It's unfortunate timing and we hope he recovers as quickly as he can. We know what Neymar stands for in particular. It’s not good for him and for Al Hilal but they may replace him with Neves. But from my end it hasn’t changed much. We are up against a very good team.”

Lots of Travel

The Islanders have travelled a lot before the giant clash. Des Buckingham shares, “The travel does play a massive part in obviously preparing the plan. I can’t speak highly enough of the players.”“First game we performed exceptionally well. It was our first competitive game of the season against a team that has already restarted their season. And if we look back at the last Champions League game, we didn’t do extremely well”, the coach emphasised his team's performance in the last two ACL games.

Confidence or Worry?

The Islanders have been performing well this season, but they couldn't score goals against Nassaji and Navbahor. When asked whether there was confidence or worry within him, Lallianzuala Chhangte addressed, 

“We created a lot of chances, but we couldn’t put it in the back of the net. It was frustrating and disappointing. But, at the same time you know you did pretty well and it gives extra motivation to hope for the next game as well.”

Al Hilal on a winning spree

The Saudi-based club is on a winning spree and has not conceded a single goal in the last 5 matches they have played. The tactician addresses, “They are in very good form. They are at the top of their domestic competition.”

“We have watched them very closely since the draw. We know the team we are coming against, we know the players that they have. They come on very strong. We know all across the pitch, the strength that they have. The focus has always been on us.” Des highlighted.