CHENNAI: From among the four teams jostling for the lone available semi-final slot in second edition of Hero Indian Super League, Chennaiyin FC is presently better-placed on the League table ahead of FC Pune City and NorthEast United FC - with a higher chance to go through the knock out stage.
Simply put, Chennaiyin FC will be guaranteed of a place in the semi-finals if they can put it across their next two opponents (Match # 51 vs Mumbai City & Match # 55 v FC Pune City), or can even qualify with four points, if NorthEast United FC does not win by more than 13 goals in their concluding clash against FC Pune City in Guwahati on 2nd December 2015.
It’s quite something for a team that was placed at the bottom of the ISL table sometime ago, but coach Marco Materazzi knows his team still has plenty of work to do as they prepare to face Mumbai City FC in an all-important 13th round clash in Chennai on Tuesday.
“We have not qualified as yet. Tomorrow will be the most important game,” Materazzi said at the pre-match media briefing.
“As I said after the ATK game, everything depends on us. Our guys have done well to create two victories and now we need to win another two games. It’s the players who make the difference,” said the Italian World Cup winner.
Chennaiyin’s resurgence has been down to two big victories in a row against Kerala Blasters (4-1) and Delhi Dynamos (4-0) thanks to their goal-scoring Colombian striker Stiven Mendoza, who is leading the race for Golden Boots Award with 10 goals.
Mathematically there is still a possibility that Mumbai City FC can qualify for the play-offs but they will have to come up with a near impossible performance of not only winning their next two games but also pray for other games to result in their favour. First to strengthen their chances, the Nicolas Anelka coached Mumbai City FC certainly require to win against Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata and then hope that the other two games - NorthEast United FC vs FC Pune City and FC Pune City vs Chennaiyin FC -- both end in draws.
“We came here to play a good game. Mathematically it’s still possible and we know we have to win this game. We will do our best on the field. The players should believe in it since in football anything is possible. We have to do our best on the field,” said Mumbai City FC marquee manager-player Nicolas Anelka.
Mumbai City are placed seventh on the table with 13 points from 12 matches.
“We know Chennai very well. We know they are strong and play good football. They have fast players like Mendoza upfront. We have to be careful. It’s going to be hard,” said Anelka.
Mumbai City FC lost their home game against Chennaiyin FC 0-2 in the first leg with Mendoza scoring both the goals.
Mumbai City FC is aware that only a win against Chennaiyin FC will keep them in race for top 4 position. Even a draw against Chennaiyin FC will not save the day for them.
(REPORT AND PICTURE COURTESY -- HERO ISL).
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