KOLKATA: Atletico de Kolkata will have their eyes fixed on the top spot as they conclude their Hero Indian Super League group-stage engagements with a clash against Mumbai City FC in Kolkata on Friday.
The defending champions are leading the ISL table with 23 points from 13 matches and have already qualified for the semi-finals. They are closely followed by FC Goa (22 points) and Delhi Dynamos (22 points from 13 matches). A victory against the lowly-placed Mumbai City FC will help them open a significant gap at the top.
ATK will accept even a second-placed finish since there are advantages of finishing in the top two as they play their second-leg semi-final clash at home and know exactly what they need to do to clinch a place in the final.
The defending champions will start favourites against the demoralised Mumbai City FC, thanks to their three victories in a row at home against Chennaiyin FC (2-1), FC Goa (4-0) and FC Pune City (4-1). Interestingly, ATK had lost three matches in a row in the first half of the league before fighting their way back by logging 13 points from their last five matches.
“I’m very happy with us qualifying for the semis. I think the confident mentality of the team has worked. In football, you lose some day, you win some day. Football has a lot to do with your mental state, you have to stay positive,” said coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
Mumbai City FC will have pride at stake as they play their concluding league clash after already bowing out of the league. Nicolas Anelka’s side had shown signs of a strong revival when they defeated NorthEast United FC 5-1 at home but they are now without a win in the last seven games.
“If you look at the beginning of the season, it was exactly like last season. We started winning and then later on we couldn’t hold on to that streak. I don’t know why but it was exactly the same this year. The players tried their best but we couldn’t help it,” said Anelka, the marquee player-manager of Mumbai City.
Mumbai City FC are placed bottom of the table with 13 points from 13 matches.