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Mumbai City FC will host Jamshedpur FC in Thursday's crunch Indian Super League (ISL) 2017/18 encounter. The visitors, currently fifth on the points table, are level with FC Goa, albeit the latter have played two games less.
Mumbai, on the other hand, are sixth on the table having played a game less than Steve Coppell's men. With games coming in thick and fast, neither side can afford to lose too many points from here on. Or else, they risk missing out on a final-four spot.
Jamshedpur FC coach, Steve Coppell reckons his team are not yet in a 'all hands on deck' situation. He suggested that his side can still make the play-offs, even if they don't earn a favourable result tomorrow.
"I don't think so for either team. We have five games left and Mumbai have six. Can we lose a game and still be part of the play offs? Yes," he said.
"It becomes more difficult obviously and now there is a lot to play for.It would be great for either team to win but it's not quite do-or-die, it's almost do-or-die," he stated.
Given the erratic nature of the tournament, several teams have had to play four games in less than a fortnight. It's not an ideal situation for any team to be in. As a result, coaches are finding it extremely difficult to inculcate their style and philosophy.
Coppell took the time to explain one major difference between the ISL and the English Premier League.
"No coach is happy with the level of play but in such a short season, results take precedence. Sometimes we sacrifice things to get results. In England for example, we have 40 games in a season and we are able to build a picture, like a montage."
"When there are only 18 games, inevitably we are travelling, packing, unpacking and playing. At the moment we are in the middle of 4 games in 11 days, so it's hard to be creative in a footballing sense," he explained.
