Manolo Marquez comes down hard on Mumbai City FC after Churchill Brothers defeat, questions team’s character
Churchill clinched their debut ISL win
Mumbai City FC head coach Manolo Marquez did not hold back in his assessment of his side after the Islanders suffered a 2-1 defeat against Churchill Brothers FC in their opening game of the ISL 2026-27 season at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday.
Despite believing that a draw would have been a fair result, Marquez was critical of Mumbai City’s performance, their lack of clinical finishing, and the quality of their pre-season preparations.
The Spaniard also questioned the team’s character after the Islanders failed to protest against a potential foul on Brandon Fernandes in the build-up to Churchill Brothers’ second goal.
Marquez questions Mumbai City’s pre-season preparations
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Mumbai City entered the new season looking to build on their third-place finish last campaign. However, their opening fixture exposed several concerns that had persisted throughout their pre-season, particularly their inability to convert chances into goals.
Marquez admitted that his side had not played well enough but felt the final result did not entirely reflect the balance of the contest.
“I think a draw would have been a fair result. We had almost the same number of chances as they did, but we didn’t play a good game,” he said.
The Mumbai City head coach was particularly scathing about the quality of the opposition his team faced during pre-season, arguing that their preparations had failed to adequately prepare them for the demands of competitive ISL football.
“It was an unrealistic pre-season. We played against very, very, very, very weak teams, and then you arrive at your first game against an ISL team. You are bound to struggle,” Marquez remarked.
The Spaniard also highlighted how Mumbai City’s lack of efficiency in front of goal had been evident even before the start of the season. Despite creating numerous opportunities against weaker opposition, the Islanders had struggled to turn their chances into convincing victories.
“Even in pre-season, we had the same problem. We created a lot of chances but were unable to score goals. Even against those weak teams, we were only winning 1-0 or 2-1. When you create around 10 chances and are not clinical, you have a problem. If you don’t score your goals, the opponents will punish you,” he added.
Marquez questions Mumbai City’s character after second goal controversy
While Mumbai City had their share of opportunities, Churchill Brothers proved more clinical in front of goal. However, the build-up to the home side’s second goal left Marquez particularly frustrated.
The Mumbai City manager believed there was a possible foul on Brandon Fernandes in the sequence leading to the goal. More than the decision itself, however, it was his players’ reaction, or the lack of it, that drew his criticism.
“Probably, there was a foul on Brandon before the second goal. But the players didn’t protest. I would have liked to see them show some character and stand up for each other. The lack of character in this team is very, very clear,” he said.
Marquez returned to the issue later in the press conference, expressing his disappointment at the team’s inability to respond collectively in a crucial moment.
“I’m disappointed with myself because I couldn’t bring out the good things in these players. But the lack of character from the team- not even protesting after the foul that led to the second goal- is something that disappoints me. A team without character is difficult to get things out of,” the Spaniard stated.
Marquez refuses to comment on individual performances
Despite his strong criticism of the team’s collective performance, Marquez was reluctant to single out individual players for their displays against Churchill Brothers.
When asked about the performances of Brandon Fernandes and Akash Mishra, the head coach chose not to elaborate, suggesting that doing so could create unnecessary problems within the squad.
“It’s better not to say anything. I don’t want to create any problems unnecessarily,” he said.
Marquez also took responsibility for the defeat, refusing to shift the blame onto his players despite his evident frustration with the team’s performance.
“I don’t want to blame any players. I am the one who is guilty of this performance,” he added.
Mumbai City turn their attention to Punjab FC
The Islanders will have little time to dwell on their opening-day defeat, with their next assignment coming against Punjab FC in Delhi.
Marquez confirmed that the team would remain in Goa overnight before resuming preparations on Tuesday for their next fixture.
“We will stay here tonight and start again on Tuesday as we travel to Delhi to play Punjab,” he said.
Despite the disappointing result, the Spaniard reserved words of appreciation for the Mumbai City supporters who travelled to Goa to back the team in their season opener.
“I am thankful to the fans who travelled away, and I am grateful for their support. I am sorry we couldn’t win, and I hope we can get a better result in Delhi,” Marquez concluded.
The defeat leaves Mumbai City with plenty to address ahead of their next fixture. While their inability to convert chances remains a familiar concern, Marquez’s comments suggest that the issues extend beyond tactics and finishing, with the head coach demanding a stronger collective response from his players as the season progresses.
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