Mumbai City FC's inconsistent form concerns Nicolas Anelka ahead of FC Pune City clash

Anelka will have to deploy himself to cover for the in-form Sunil Chhetri who will be absent for Friday’s clash

Mumbai City FC will look to end a two-game winless streak when they take on FC Pune City at Mumbai’s Dr. D.Y. Patil stadium on Friday evening. However, Mumbai City FC will have to do the same without their top scorer Sunil Chhetri and winger Sony Norde, both of whom have been in scintillating form this campaign.

FC Pune City have already got the better of Mumbai City FC this season when the two sides had met at the Balewadi stadium as Tuncay Sanli’s brace helped Pune run out 3-1 winners. But since then Mumbai City FC have revived their season and are in with more than a chance to make the semi-finals of the ISL.

But the inconsistency and unpredictability of the Mumbai City FC side has had Nicolas Anelka worried.

“I believe we can do better than the away game we had in Pune but the Mumbai team is unpredictable. We can be very good on our day and we can also be very poor. That's not a good point but I hope we will see the very good face of Mumbai against Pune tomorrow,” said Anelka on the eve of the match.

I have been training well: Anelka

For their opening round away match against FC Pune City, Mumbai City had missed the services of Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Paul. Anelka once again finds himself in a similar situation with his star striker and goalkeeper on national duty. To add to his woes, Sony Norde too has flown back to join his national team Haiti and will miss two matches.

“They are good players, so of course we will miss them. But the team is ready and we will try our best to do the job without them,” said the former Real Madrid and Chelsea star.

Nicolas Anelka still has plenty of options in attack to replace the in-form duo and is likely to use himself in the team.

However, Anelka himself has not been at his best this season and promised to do more in the second phase.

“I have been training well and think I will need more minutes on the pitch to be fitter. But, yes, you can expect to see more of me in the second part of ISL,” explained Anelka.

Nicolas Anelka will be hoping Mumbai City FC get their top game on show against FC Pune City as the Blue Devils are in need of a victory to help them get back to the top four. And with just two home games left to play for his side, he will want his team to make the most of it when FC Pune City make the short trip to Mumbai.