The Indian Super League has not been kind to the Maharashtra-based club. They finished second last in the inaugural season and conceded the most number of goals in the process. The second season was a bit better but it was nothing to boast about.
They finished sixth, scored the least and conceded the second most goals in another dismal campaign. Indian captain Suni Chhetri scored 7 of their 16 goals last campaign with other forwards failing miserably. We take a look at five players who can help Mumbai City FC in reaching the knockout stages for the first time in the competition's history:
1) Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Having scored only 16 goals last season and with talisman Sunil Chhetri most likely not available due to commitments with Bengaluru FC, the Mumbai team are in desperate need of a striker. Who better to buy than the veteran German forward Miroslav Klose?
He is Germany’s all-time top goalscorer as well as the record scorer in the FIFA World Cup. Even in his 30s, Klose is dispatching a goal every 170 minutes. With his shooting abilities, Klose is a nightmare for any goalkeeper.
He is the ideal centre-forward and the makes the team play around him with perfection. With 268 goals in 665 games for club and country, Miroslav Klose has all the tools in his bag to lift Mumbai City FC into the top.
2) Ashley Cole (England)
The former Chelsea and Arsenal full-back will be ideal for Ranbir Kapoor’s team. The 35-year-old Englishman is still playing competitive football in America with Los Angeles Galaxy and will prove to be a major asset for any club.
With the MLS taking a break in November and December, Cole will be available for the entire tournament. An attack-minded left-back, Ashley Cole is gifted with great dribbling skills and outwits his opponents time and time again.
His crossing skills are perfect and has a great range of passes. Defensively, he is a nuisance for any attacker. Constantly putting the opposition under pressure, Cole gets results almost every time. Having played over 380 games of top-level competitive football in England, Ashley Cole is just the man to lead Mumbai City to glory this season.
3) Holicharan Narzary (India)
The Assamese winger played his trade for North East United FC in the 2015 ISL season. Having played only three games that season, he was one of the lesser valued players at the club. A move to Mumbai City FC seems ideal for the man from Kokrajhar.
A forward bursting with pace and energy, Narzary enjoys running with the ball and toying with the opposition defenders. With solid dribbling and passing abilites, he is a complete package. Featuring for Dempo in the I-League since 2013, Holicharan Narzary has enough experience to play the beautiful game at its highest level and will look to set the stage on fire in the upcoming ISL season.
4) Daniel Agger (Denmark)
Just like the Kerala blasters, Mumbai City FC desperately require a solid centre-half. Who better to buy than the recently retired Daniel Agger. The former Liverpool defender is still in touch with the game and will happy to play another two months of competitive football, especially since the ISL is not as taxing on the body as the European leagues.
Having played over 350 games for club and country, Agger is an experienced campaigner. He can dispossess any player with his crunching tackles and is a massive aerial threat.
The Dane is handy in attack as well where his bullet-like headers will be more than a challenge to deal with. Having captained his country for over 50 games, Agger is a born leader and can don the captain’s armband. With an impressive CV, Agger will be a key target for the Mumbai team, which is desperate for clean sheets.
5) Anthony Pereira (India)
The experienced midfielder will fit in perfectly into the Mumbai club. Now 34 years old, Pereira has been playing competitive football since 2005 for Vasco, Dempo FC and Churchill Brothers. A typical box to box midfielder, Anthony Pereira has great vision and tends to dictate play whenever the team gets possession of the ball.
His crosses are pinpoint and his dribbling skills are top notch. If at all Sunil Chhetri gets released for the upcoming tournament, Anthony will link brilliantly with the forward and the goal flow will be as certainly rise for the Mumbai side.
