Manolo Marquez addresses Mumbai City FC’s injury concerns and attacking struggles ahead of Kerala Blasters clash
Tuskers are set to host the Islanders
Mumbai City FC will look to secure their first win of the season when they travel to Kochi on Sunday, October 25.
The Islanders have collected their first point of the ISL 2026-27 season after drawing against Punjab FC in their previous outing. However, their performances have left room for improvement, with both their goals so far coming from penalties and the team conceding a late equaliser against Punjab after being reduced to ten men.
With Kerala Blasters preparing to play in front of their home supporters, Mumbai will have to deal with a difficult away fixture while looking to improve their performance at both ends of the pitch.
Manolo Marquez backs Mumbai’s defensive performance against Punjab
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Mumbai conceded a late equaliser against Punjab FC, with Wilmar Jordan Gil unable to continue after picking up an injury in the closing stages. Having already used all their substitutes, the Islanders were forced to play with ten men as Punjab pushed for a late goal.
Despite the result, Marquez felt his side had defended well for much of the contest and acknowledged the quality of their opponents.
Also Read: Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC: Head-to-head record ahead of ISL 2026-27 clash
“We played a good game defensively against Punjab. We conceded very late, but we were playing with ten players, and Punjab have a very good team. They were pushing hard and eventually managed to equalise,” Marquez said.
Mumbai will now face another challenging opponent in Kerala Blasters, who are expected to benefit from strong home support. Marquez acknowledged the atmosphere at Kochi but also believes the fixture will be difficult for the hosts.
He said that Kerala’s opening home game of the season would make the occasion special, but insisted that Mumbai would also pose a challenge to their opponents.
Vikram and Wilmar ruled out with injuries
Mumbai have suffered two significant injury setbacks ahead of the Kerala Blasters encounter, with Vikram Partap Singh and Wilmar Jordan Gil both expected to miss the upcoming fixture.
Vikram sustained an injury during Mumbai’s previous game against Punjab, and Marquez confirmed that the winger would be unavailable for an extended period.
“Vikram has suffered a bad injury and will be out for a long period. We will have to see whether he can play some games towards the latter part of the ISL season, but he will be out for now,” the Mumbai head coach revealed.
The absence of Vikram is a blow to Mumbai’s attacking options, particularly given his ability to provide pace and directness in wide areas.
Wilmar has also picked up a hamstring problem and will miss the Kerala fixture, with the coach confirming that the forward is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
“He has a muscle problem in his hamstring and will not be available for this game. He will be out for a few games,” Marquez said.
The two injuries could force changes to Mumbai’s starting XI, although the coach remained uncertain about the extent of the alterations.
Farukh Choudhary calls for greater composure in the final third
Farukh Choudhary, who has returned to Mumbai City FC, believes the team’s attacking players need to become more clinical in front of goal.
Asked what the coaching staff had emphasised in training ahead of the Kerala fixture, the forward pointed to the importance of converting the chances created during matches.
“As attackers, we need to score. Whoever plays in the attacking unit has to be more clinical with the chances we create. That could help us score early in games and put ourselves in a better position to control them,” Farukh said.
The forward also spoke about his role within a relatively young attacking group, explaining that he hopes to use his experience to help his teammates develop their game.
Farukh believes the younger players possess considerable talent but need to show greater composure, particularly when they make mistakes during matches.
He added that he could help them understand the coach’s instructions and maintain their confidence when things do not go according to plan.
As for his own role, Farukh insisted that he would be prepared to perform whatever task Marquez assigns him.
“Wherever I play, whatever job the coach gives me, I need to stick to that and perform to the best of my abilities,” he said.
Marquez explains Akash Mishra’s appointment as captain
Akash Mishra has taken over the captain’s armband at Mumbai City FC, with Manolo Marquez backing the defender’s leadership qualities and personality.
The coach, who worked with Mishra at Hyderabad FC for three seasons, explained that the decision was taken collectively by the players and coaching staff. However, Marquez also offered a different perspective on captaincy, pointing out that the role carries less significance in Spanish football than it often does in India.
“In Spain, being the captain or not is not very important. Here, it seems that if you wear the armband, you are like the boss. It is simply a requirement that one player has to be the captain. We decided on the captains together with the players and the staff, and Akash, obviously, was with me when he was 18 at Hyderabad for three seasons. I know him very well, and he has the personality to be the captain,” Marquez said.
The Spaniard also praised Mishra’s recovery from an ACL injury, stating that the left-back is now close to returning to his previous level, although he is still not completely back to 100% fitness.
Can Mumbai secure their first win of the season?
Mumbai City FC head to Kochi with several questions still to answer. Their attacking unit needs to convert chances more consistently, their defensive concentration must last the full ninety minutes, and the injuries to Vikram and Wilmar have further complicated their preparations.
At the same time, Marquez has backed his team’s defensive performance against Punjab and remains confident that the attacking issues can be addressed through continued work on the training ground.
Kerala Blasters will offer a stern test, particularly with the home crowd behind them. For Mumbai, the challenge will be to remain composed, manage the hosts’ attacking threats and make better use of the opportunities they create.
The Islanders will be hoping that their next trip to Kochi brings their first three points of the season, but they will need a more complete performance to achieve that objective.
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