"We need to recover, stay focused": Manolo Marquez backs Mumbai City FC to bounce back ahead of Punjab FC clash
Punjab FC will host the Islanders at their home.
Mumbai City FC will look to recover from their opening defeat as Manolo Marquez stresses the importance of taking chances, while Carlos Delgado calls for greater defensive compactness.
Mumbai City FC head coach Manolo Marquez has backed his team to recover from their opening-day defeat against Churchill Brothers as the Islanders prepare to face Punjab FC away at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on October 19 in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27.
Mumbai suffered a 2-1 defeat against Churchill Brothers in Fatorda despite creating several opportunities, particularly in the opening stages.
Marquez believes the result did not reflect the balance of the contest, pointing to the chances his side missed before conceding at crucial moments.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Spaniard maintained that his team needed to focus on improving in training and preparing for the next fixture rather than dwelling on the defeat.
“Obviously, we lost the first game, and we are not happy about it. But these things happen in football, and you have to continue,” Marquez said.
The Mumbai head coach also pointed to his previous seasons in Indian football, explaining that losing an opening game did not necessarily determine how a team’s campaign would unfold.
“In my previous six or seven seasons, I think my teams lost three of the six opening games we played. Despite that, we always finished in the top positions. It is not about how you start; it is about how you finish the season,” he added.
Marquez insists missed chances proved costly against Churchill Brothers
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Mumbai City started their campaign with an aggressive approach and enjoyed periods of possession against Churchill Brothers.
However, they struggled to convert their early opportunities before the hosts took the lead from a set-piece situation.
Marquez highlighted two early chances involving Wilmar Jordan Gil and Brandon Fernandes that could have changed the course of the match.
“Jordan was very close to scoring in the third minute, and Brandon had one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper around the tenth minute. If we had scored at least one of those chances, the game would have changed completely. But we did not take them.” he explained.
The Spaniard acknowledged that Churchill Brothers became more difficult to break down after taking the lead, with the opposition defending deep and committing several players behind the ball.
“In the second half, the game became more even, particularly after they scored the first goal. It became more difficult because they defended very well, with a lot of players behind the ball. It was difficult to break them down.” Marquez said.
Despite the defeat, he reiterated his belief that Mumbai did not deserve to leave Fatorda without a point.
“Even so, I still believe what I told you the other day: in my opinion, it was not fair that we lost that game,” he added.
The Islanders will now look to improve their attacking efficiency against Punjab FC, who arrive after an impressive performance against Odisha FC.
Marquez will hope that his side can make better use of its opportunities and find solutions against an organised defensive unit.
Vikram Partap Singh’s return to the squad after completing his suspension could also provide the coach with another option as Mumbai seek their first points of the season.
Marquez calls for patience with young winger Hridaya Jain
Marquez also spoke about young winger Hridaya Jain, who made an impression after coming on in the second half against Churchill Brothers.
Asked whether Jain could develop into an important player for Mumbai City FC and potentially the Indian national team, the head coach urged patience, stressing that young players needed time to establish themselves.
“It is too early to say that. You are moving very quickly,” Marquez remarked.
“He is a very young player who is still developing. He has been doing very well in training sessions and friendly games. In fact, he was perhaps one of the best players in some of those games,” he said.
Marquez emphasised that a young player’s development should not be judged on the basis of a single promising appearance. Instead, he believes the player must demonstrate the ability and attitude required to perform consistently.
“When the day comes that he becomes a starter, he must be ready to start in many consecutive games. That, for me, is the process a young player needs to go through,” he explained.
“It is not about playing one good game and then assuming that everything is finished. He needs more time. But obviously, the qualities are there.”
The Mumbai coach concluded by expressing confidence in Jain’s long-term prospects, highlighting his qualities and potential to develop into a very good player.
Carlos Delgado stresses collective defending ahead of Punjab challenge
Mumbai City FC defender Carlos Delgado believes the team must improve its defensive organisation and work collectively to avoid a repeat of the mistakes that proved costly against Churchill Brothers.
The experienced Spaniard pointed out that defending was not solely the responsibility of the back four, insisting that the entire team needed to contribute without the ball.
“Defending is not only about the back four. We need to defend well as a team, with all 11 players contributing,” Delgado said.
“The most important thing is to remain compact and have clear ideas about where we need to go and when we need to press. We must be ready for second balls and, especially, win our duels. Duels can decide games,” he added.
Delgado expects a difficult encounter against Punjab FC, whom he described as a strong side with quality players. He also acknowledged their performances across the current and previous seasons.
“I watched the games, including Punjab’s match against Odisha, and in my opinion, they played very good attacking football,” he said.
“The game will be very tough for both teams. It could be decided by a small detail. We need to remain focused from the beginning until the end and take the opportunities and chances that come our way to get the three points.”
With Punjab possessing attacking threats capable of capitalising on defensive lapses, Mumbai will need to maintain their concentration throughout the contest while ensuring that their attacking intent does not leave them vulnerable in transition.
Delgado urges unity as Mumbai look to turn their season around
Delgado also acknowledged that the opening defeat was not the start Mumbai had expected, particularly given the team’s ambitions heading into the campaign.
With several new players in the squad, the defender stressed the importance of building cohesion and concentrating on the immediate challenge rather than allowing the opening result to affect the team’s confidence.
“It has not been the best start for us. We all know that we expected to win the game, but in football, anything can happen,” Delgado said.
“Now, we need to recover, stay focused on the next game and take things step by step. There are a lot of new players, so we need to stay together, remain compact and focus on the next game. I think that is the most important thing for us right now.”
Delgado addresses the Mumbai City supporters
Delgado also had a message for the Mumbai City FC supporters who travelled to Goa for the season opener.
Despite the disappointing result, he urged the fans to continue standing behind the team through the difficult moments of the campaign.
“During a season, there will be good moments and bad moments. But if all of us stay together, we will get through the bad moments faster, when we are together, we will certainly be stronger and become a winning team. ” he said.
Mumbai will now look to translate Marquez’s emphasis on taking chances and Delgado’s call for greater defensive compactness into a more complete performance against Punjab FC.
After beginning the season with a defeat, the Islanders will be keen to respond with a positive result in New Delhi.
When and where will the Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC ISL 2026-27 match take place?
The ISL 2026-27 match between Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC will take place on Monday, 19 October 2026, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 IST.
Where can fans watch the Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC ISL 2026-27 match live?
Fans can watch the Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC match live on Sony LIV. The match will also be available for free live streaming on YouTube.
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