Kolkata: On an winning streak of three matches Chennaiyin FC, will hope to continue their sweet run when they face Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai football Arena on Sunday. The super ‘Machans’ have bounced back in style following their loss to FC Goa in the opening encounter , winning the next three matches including a late dramatic 3-2 win over defending champions ATK.
“We just want to keep it going. We had a poor first 45 minutes in our first game (against FC Goa), but since then we have managed to put together a couple of good results and we desperately want to keep it going,” said head coach John Gregory at the pre-match conference.
The former champions will however not have it easy against the ‘Islanders’ who are in unbeaten at home and come on the back of snatching a late 1-1 draw against Kerala Blasters in an intriguing atmosphere in Kochi.
“That was a positive result, considering we were playing away. It’s not easy in Kochi because of the fantastic atmosphere. I like that atmosphere. We have returned with a point which is important. That will give us confidence for the home games,” said Mumbai captain Lucian Goian.
“We are prepared for everything. Most important is for us to control the game. We have showed that we are improving with each game. That gives us a lot of confidence,” added the Brazilian.
Chennaiyin however have been bolstered by the return of Raphael Augusto, who was kept out of the ATK match as a ‘precautionary measure’ informed Gregory also adding that most importantly the return to form Indian striker Jeje have been impressive.
“For him possibly (I am relieved). When a large part of your job is scoring goals, which he is done not only for his club but for his country (India), and the fact that he hadn’t scored going into the fourth match was very unusual for him, fortunately other people had been scoring, which obviously takes a lot of pressure off Jeje,” said the Englishmen defending the Indian international’s barren spell as a common issue in football.
“When you have got goal scoring qualities it will come. Back in England, people like Alan Shearer have all gone through barren spells, when we needed it the other night, he (Jeje) came with the goods,” he added.
Mumbai captain Goian, not the one to take anything for granted however nulled off any influence of the Mizoram lad, “If they have Jeje, we have Balwant. It will be a good contest,” he signed off.