ISL 2015: Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC - Preview

Mumbai City FC face an important clash against Chennayin FC.

Mumbai: Hugging the lower half of the eight-team table, hosts Mumbai City FC look forward to turn things around in the Indian Super League as they begin a string of five home games, commencing with a clash against Chennayin FC here.

The match would also see national football captain Sunil Chhetri to make his ISL debut, having missed the entire last season and the first two games of the current edition.

"This is the start of everything; we will be happy to introduce the three Indian national players --- Chettri, Subrata Paul and Lalachhuanmawia Fanai who were not available for the first two games," said the team's assistant coach Oscar Bruzon ahead of his team's home opener of the season at the D Y Patil Stadium.

"I think everything was gelling in the first two games, but we did not get the six points we wanted. Now is the time to start afresh in Mumbai. We have five games in a row here.

We are completely excited to play here. We want to show tomorrow what this Mumbai City FC is capable of. Tomorrow we have to start winning, no excuse," added the Spaniard, referring to his team's winless record in two games.

Mumbai City FC have lost one and drawn the other so far.

He also played down the absence of Andre Moritz from the squad.

"We have 25 players in the squad and we have injury issues, but nothing is big enough. We are focusing on the resources in the form of players who are available. There are minor injuries sustained in the form of muscle strains and niggles while training at the Cooperage ground," he declared.

"The tournament is a short league. It's a tough and very demanding calendar (schedule). We play for three months and play every third day. But we hope to change of the tendency of losing from tomorrow. We were getting close to the final set up and positions are still open," he added. 

<div class="fulstorytext" id="1tak6621102" style="clear:both; border:solid 0px red;" "="">     In contrast, Chennaiyin FC s head coach, Marco Materazzi, is wary of the string of four away games his team is confronted with.

"Last year s competition was different. We are now in the phase of four away games; so it s tough. We hope this phase will bring us victories. We have to win tomorrow s game to gain in confidence," said the Italian.

Chennai, were lying sixth on the table with 3 points, two more than 7th-placed Mumbai, going into the clash.

The southern outfit would be high on confidence following the 4-0 drubbing of FC Goa in their previous game in the latter's backyard, powered by Stiven Mendoza's superb hat-trick.

Mumbai, who lost 1-3 to FC Pune City in the Maharashtra Derby opener and then did better in the next game by holding Kerala Blasters to a goalless draw in Kochi, would be keen to find the mark against Chennai.