Manolo Marquez tight-lipped on his future, insists again a striker can help Mumbai City reach top six.
The Islanders are ready to face SC Delhi next at home
Mumbai City FC head coach Manolo Marquez refused to comment on speculation surrounding his future at the club ahead of the Islandersโ first home game of the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season against Sporting Club Delhi on Saturday, November 1.
The Islanders are looking to register their first win of the season after collecting two points from their opening three matches.
Marquez refuses to comment on his future
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With growing speculation surrounding his position at the club, Marquez was asked whether there had been any discussions with the management regarding his future.
The Spaniard refused to comment, keeping the focus on the upcoming fixture.
โFirstly, about this, I cannot say anything. Tomorrow we have a game at 5 PM at home, Mumbai FC against SC Delhi. This is the only thing I can say. We will be there trying to win the game,โ Marquez stated.
โIf we sign a striker, Mumbai will finish in the top sixโ: Manolo Marquez
Marquez reiterated his belief that signing a specialist striker could significantly improve Mumbai Cityโs chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
โI repeat the same. If we have a good number nine, then Mumbai will finish in the top six,โ he said.
The coach maintained that Mumbai have a disciplined squad but needs more attacking options to convert performances into victories. He also acknowledged that injuries to Leandro Otormin, Wilmar Jordan Gil and Vikram Pratap Singh have complicated the situation.
Also Read: End of Road? Manolo Marquezโs future at Mumbai City FC hangs in balance
Marquez cited his experience at FC Goa, recalling how he predicted a top-two finish when the team was in the middle of the table during the 2024-25 season. Goa eventually finished as runners-up.
The Spaniard believes his experience in Indian football gives him reason to remain optimistic about Mumbaiโs prospects, provided the club can strengthen its attacking options and he can ensure a top 6 finish for the Islanders.
He clarified that his demand was not about signing one particular player but about having more options, particularly given the number of injuries and the reliance on young players.
โGive me 10 Udantas and I will be in the top two, three in the tableโ: Mumbai City head coach reveals top three ambition
Marquez strongly defended Farukh Choudhary and other Indian attacking players who frequently face criticism. Explaining Farukhโs late arrival at Mumbai City, he said the club signed him after losing Nikum at the last moment.
The Spaniard then made a strong statement about the criticism directed at Indian attackers.
โIn this country, there are two or three players who, no matter whether they play well or badly, you all say they play badly. I was with Udanta for four years. Give me 10 Udantas, and I will be in the top two or three in the table. Then, with Farukh, it is similar, and with Liston Colaco.โ
โSome players are criticised because people like to criticise. They donโt understand that when you play in attacking positions, you have more possibilities of losing the ball than when you play as a defender.โ
โFarukh can play better. Everyone can play better, not only Farukh. But Farukh is a very good player. When Farukh was in the national team under Stimac, he was in the national team under me, and he is in the national team under Khalid Jamil. It is not because he is a friend of all of us. It is because he has enough quality to play in every team in the ISL.โ
Marquez also dismissed the suggestion that Mumbai should abandon their possession-based approach in favour of a transition-oriented style built around the pace of their wingers.
โWe have players and a team good enough to keep more possession, and we did it in Kerala,โ he said, pointing to the improvement in ball retention during their goalless draw against Kerala Blasters.
Leandro Otormin ruled out for the season
Mumbai Cityโs injury problems worsened, with Marquez confirming that Leandro Otormin will miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a serious knee injury.
โMaybe the medical team would be better placed to explain it, but he will be out for the whole season. I think he has an ACL plus MCL injury. It is a very, very bad injury. He will be out of action for a long, long time,โ the coach revealed.
Marquez admitted that losing players for extended periods has been difficult to manage, particularly with several key players already sidelined.
There was some positive news regarding Brandon Fernandes, who has been included in the squad for the Sporting Club Delhi fixture. However, Marquez did not confirm whether the midfielder would start.
โHeโs in the list. Whether he will play or not, letโs see,โ he said.
Cirkovic confident ahead of Mumbai Cityโs first home game
Mumbai City defender Lazar Cirkovic expressed confidence in the teamโs preparations, emphasising the importance of collective defending against Sporting Club Delhi.
โThe defence starts from the attack, from the striker, and then finishes with the last three or four and the goalkeeper. We should be aware of how the whole team defends together. We should stay compact, everybody together,โ Cirkovic explained.
The Serbian defender also insisted that the mood in the dressing room remained positive despite the injury setbacks.
โThe atmosphere is very good, honestly. The mood is very good in the team. We are looking forward to the first home match,โ he said.
Both Cirkovic and Marquez urged supporters to turn up in numbers at the Mumbai Football Arena.
โEvery time I play in Mumbai, I really enjoy the atmosphere. The stadium may not be very big, but it is almost full every time, and the fans are closer to the pitch than at many other grounds in the ISL. I have played here five or six times, and I have always enjoyed the way the supporters get behind Mumbai City.โ
โThe crowd is very important, but the team also needs to give the fans reasons to cheer. We need their support, and the more people who come to the stadium, the better. We know the quality of our opponents, but in this competition, any team can beat another. Letโs go for the three points tomorrow,โ said Manolo.
Mumbai City will hope to secure their first victory of the season against Sporting Club Delhi, with Marquez maintaining that a quality striker could be crucial to their playoff ambitions. However, the coachโs refusal to address speculation about his future leaves questions surrounding his position unanswered.
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