For sportspersons, a record is a thing of pride – something to be carried around with a swagger and a smile, to display as a badge of honour. But a dubious accomplishment has quite the opposite effect – demoralising, downright embarrassing even.
That is the situation that Mumbai City FC and Pune City FC find themselves in as they square off for the local Maharashtra derby. Both clubs have failed to qualify for the playoffs in earlier seasons. For both teams, then, it's the beginning of an attempt to set the record straight as they take to the field on Monday evening.
Last season, Mumbai had the squad but descended into in-fighting and chaos with player-manager Nicolas Anelka refusing to play Sunil Chhetri in his preferred position. The club parted ways with assistant manager Oscar Bruzon mid-way through the campaign, and Andre Moritz, hat-trick scorer in a 5-0 demolition of Pune in ISL-1, also quit after an alleged altercation with Anelka.
Pune have hired Antonio Lopez Habas, who won the league in its first year with Atletico de Kolkata, but the Spaniard will be serving a four-game touchline ban inherited from last season. Their search for winners has also seen them sign up Armenian goalie Apoula Edel, the only man to win the ISL twice.
Habas is joined by Arata Izumi, whom he managed at Atletico de Kolkata. The Indian midfielder of Japanese origin was one of the best local players in last year's league. He will take his position in midfield alongside Jonatan Lucca, signed from FC Goa, and Argentine Gustavo Obermans. Pune will be without marquee Mohamed Sissoko, signed at the last minute after the departure of Eidur Gudjohnsen, in their first match, though.
Mumbai have opted for a more professional set-up this time around with their marquee player Diego Forlan, Golden Boot winner at the 2010 World Cup, arguably the biggest name to grace the league this season. Their new coach Alexandre Guimares has led Costa Rica to two World Cup tournaments.
Four of their contingent will be missed due to their AFC Cup commitments with Bengaluru FC, however, chief among them being striker Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Amrinder Singh. Guimares may opt for Argentine Matias Defederico behind Forlan, while Pronay Halder and Boithang Haokip are expected to start in midfield.
Match Facts
Venue: The Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, popularly known as the Balewadi Stadium.
Capacity: 11,900.
Time: 7 pm IST.
Last meeting: Mumbai City FC 0 - 0 Pune City FC, November 13, 2015, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Head-to-head: Matches played: 4. Pune wins: 2, Mumbai wins: 1, Draws: 1
Key Battles
Jesus Tato vs Pronay Halder: The ex-Barcelona youth product Jesus Tato can play as either a winger or a striker, and will look to create havoc in the opposition half. Tato has a bag of tricks up his sleeve as he takes on the job of orchestrating Pune's attacks.
Halder, a man 10 years junior to Tato, is expected to sit deepest in Mumbai's formation and is an excellent technician, besides being a mainstay of the Indian national team. He will have to keep Tato quiet if Mumbai are to get anything from this game.
Jonathan Lucca vs Diego Forlan: A similar battle to the last one, Lucca was one of the key figures in Goa's run to the finals last season. The defensive midfielder from Brazil is just 22 and has the energy and the technique to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Lucca will be up against a man 14 years his senior. Diego Forlan is not just one of the greatest players to grace the ISL, but the footballing world as a whole. Having won just about every individual honour there is to win barring the Ballon d'Or, the Uruguayan will bring all his experience to the field at the ripe old age of 36.
Squads
FC Pune City: Edel Bete, Arindam Bhattacharya, Vishal Kaith, Zodingliana Ralte, Vishal Kaith, Rahul Bheke, Yumnam Raju, Narayan Das, Augustine Fernandes, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Eduardo Ferreira, Gouramangi Singh, Arata Izumi, Jonathan Lucca, Mohamed Sissoko, Francis Fernandes, Bruno Arias, Josep María Comadevall Crous (Pitu), Lenny Rodrigues, Manish Maithani, Momar Ndoye, Sanju Pradhan, Anibal Zurdo Rodriguez, Gustavo Oberman, Jesus Rodriguez Tato.
Mumbai City FC: Roberto Volpato Neto, Albino Gomes, Gerson Vieira, Lucian Goian, Facundo Cardozo, Anwar Ali, Aiborlang Khongjee, Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Munmun Timothy Lugun, Ashutosh Mehta, Krisztian Vadocz, Leo Costa, Jackichand Singh, Pronay Halder, Sehnaj Singh, Boithang Haokip, David Lalrinmuana, Rakesh Oram, Matias Defederico, Otacilio Brito Alves, Sony Norde, Diego Forlan, Gaston Sangoy.
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