SAn in-crisis Delhi Dynamos travel to Western India to face Mumbai City in Indian Super league at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri on Friday. Seven points behind the home side, the Miguel Portugal-coached outfit are under immense pressure to change their fortune in the league.
Dynamos are in the midst of a wretched run of five defeats in a row while Mumbai City have lost just once in their last four matches. The stakes are very different for both sides: a win for Delhi will take them off the bottom of the table; for Mumbai City, three points means equalling table-toppers Chennaiyin FC. It could not have been more starker, but such have been Delhi's woes this season that it is not surprising. They've shipped an incredible 15 goals this season and scored just five. Needless to say, they are in dire need of a positive result. "It's not about pressure but it is high time that we start winning games. That's what we've come to do here. Everything was right: the training, the team and the performances as well. The only thing not working is the thrust in the final third and the finishing," said Shakti Chauhan, assistant coach.
"In today's world, teams use video analysis. It's a big boon for coaches and everybody is studying us. We need to have an extra edge in this sort of a competitive atmosphere, which we don't seem to have," he added.
While Mumbai coach Alexandre Guimarães is expecting a tough game.
"What games are telling us is that every match is going to be tough. We have to play with a lot of seriousness and focus and I hope we learn that as the games go by. For us, it is really important to make it two wins in a row," said Guimaraes.
popovic suspended
FC Pune City head coach Ranko Popovic has been suspended for four matches and fined Rs5 lakhs with immediate effect for the club’s upcoming games in the ISl.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) Disciplinary Committee found FC Pune City coach Popovic in breach of Article 50 (misconduct against match officials) and Article 58 (offensive behaviour and fair play) for his remarks made against Match Officials at the post-match press conference after the match between FC Goa and FC Pune City.