Mumbai City FC manager Nicolas Anelka not taking struggling Atletico de Kolkata lightly

Nicolas Anelka’s Mumbai City FC are currently fourth in the table with a game in hand

Mumbai City FC head into the game against a struggling Atletico de Kolkata in a confident mood, having won their last three games in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). But the same cannot be said of the defending champions who come into the game on the back of three straight losses where Antonio Habas’ men failed to score even once.

Mumbai City FC who, on the other hand, have had no such problems with Sunil Chhetri firing on all cylinders, making Mumbai City FC favorites for this game at their home. But manager cum marquee player Nicolas Anelka refused to buy this thought and felt that their opponents remain a very good side despite their form and injuries.

“I don’t think it will be an easy game. I know the team with whom we are playing and they have very good players. They are a very good team and it is going to be a hard game for us,” said Anelka, speaking at the pre-match press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

The Frenchman felt that things change very quickly in the ISL and it was not too many days before that his side was facing a similar fate.

“I know they (Atletico de Kolkata) are in a hard situation, but few days back we too were almost last and now we are in a good position. So we can’t take anything for granted and we must be wary of Atletico as they are a very good team despite all their injuries,” said the Frenchman as he threw a caution to his team.

Playing at home will be an advantage for us: Anelka

The stats suggest that Nicolas Anelka is right to be wary of this game against the champions as no team in this season’s ISL has managed to knit together four wins in a row.

However, Nicolas Anelka feels his team doesn’t need to do anything different to achieve that and must make the most of the home advantage.

“We have no special plan, we want to keep doing what we have been doing well. We are playing at home and it will be an advantage and we must work hard to make it count,” said the Frenchman.

After being asked about a points target at the end of the league stage which Mumbai City FC aim to achieve, Anelka refused to highlight any specific number and said that it was important that his team make the semi-finals. “I think usually if you have more than 20 points you have a good chance to make the semi-finals. But I am not setting any target. We want to be in the semi-finals, be it with 18, 22 or 24, it doesn’t matter.”

A win against the Champions will take Mumbai City FC to the top of the Hero ISL table at the half way mark in the league stage, which will be a good platform to build on for Nicolas Anelka’s men, going into the second half of the league stage.