Anthony Fernandes reveals why Mumbai City foreigners didn't travel to Iran

Mumbai City FC will be missing out on their foreign contingent for this game.

Mumbai City FC braces for a crucial AFC Champions League 2023-24 showdown against Nassaji Mazandaran in Iran, reminiscing the previous clash where the Iranians claimed victory in Pune. Plagued by challenges, the Islanders confront this high-stakes encounter without their foreign talents and grapple with a precarious position at the group’s bottom. 

Further complicating matters, the departure of head coach Des Buckingham to England’s Oxford United thrusts the team into uncharted waters. They will have assistant coach Anthony Fernandes on the sidelines against the Iran-based outfit.

Here’s what Anthony Fernandes and captain Rahul Bheke has to say ahead of the match:

Thoughts on the game

In a pivotal AFC Champions League clash, Mumbai City FC confront Nassaji Mazandaran in Iran, seeking redemption after their previous meeting ended in Iranian triumph.

Anthony Fernandes expressed, “Thank you for the warm welcome that you have given to our team, it is really appreciated. Looking forward to the match, it is going to be very competitive for me as well as for us as a team. We are going to try to go for a win and I think, even Nassaji Mazandaran would be aiming for the three points again. It’s going to be a very competitive match and we look forward to getting the three points and playing this match to our strengths.”

Rahul Bheke added, “Since we played against Nassaji in our previous meeting at home, we know the quality they bring to the table. We have an idea of the way they played against us in our previous game and as a team, we are well prepared and are looking forward to this challenge.”

No foreign players included

A formidable obstacle confronts Mumbai City FC as none of their foreign players have travelled, leaving the team bereft of key assets for an impending challenge, amplifying the stakes. When asked about the same, Anthony Fernandes replied, “We as a club respect every individual player and every country’s rules where they come from. It was a travel advisory from the players’ respective countries which we had to adhere to. And yes, it’s a new situation for us. But we are as strong as we can be in this match.”

Positive developments in Indian Football

Indian football has witnessed notable positive strides in recent years, marked by the growing influence of the Indian Super League (ISL), increased competitiveness, excellent performance by the Indian national team and the integration of quality foreign players.

Anthony Fernandes highlighted, “In terms of the position that Indian football is in, I think we are gradually growing. We are trying to do our best to compete with the best of the Asian teams. I think the local league back home, the ISL, is making a big impact on the players’ improvement. It gives them a lot of competitive game time. A lot of quality foreigners come to play in India, who helps the Indian players perform better.”

“At the same time, all the clubs are also putting in a lot of effort to provide the right opportunities and platform for the players to perform. There are a lot of quality competitions happening back in India, which are helping in the development of the country’s football,” he compounded.

Nassaji vs other Iranian clubs

Rahul Bheke, when asked to compare Nassaji Mazandaran with other Iranian clubs, he responded, “We have seen Persepolis last time when they played in India. We know few of the top players from their team, especially the Iranian players. They are good physically as well as technically.”

“We have been seeing them even in the World Cups as well as in Asian competitions when they represent Iran. Since childhood, we have been seeing some of these top teams and top players. So yes, Indian players have seen the Iranian players and the teams. They have been to India to play the AFC Champions League before as well, so we know the kind of football they play and the quality of Iranian football,” the skipper added.

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