Last year's Indian Super League experience helping Mumbai City FC manager Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka’s leadership will be key to Mumbai City FC’s fate this season

The Hero Indian Super League was a breath of fresh air for Indian Football last season as it announced India as a footballing nation on the global stage. A lot of it though was down to the number of superstars who made their way into the ISL adding to its glamour quotient.

Mumbai City FC’s signing of Nicolas Anelka, a player who played for a host of top European clubs including the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid made the world take notice. Much to Mumbai City FC’s credit they were able to get him back for Season Two of the ISL, but this time too, Anelka will be in for a new challenge after being announced as the player-manager of the Mumbai outfit.

Speaking to the media during a press conference in Mumbai, ahead of their opening game against FC Pune City, Nicolas Anelka discussed his new role which and revealed how he has gone about it. “It is not easy to manage both (Playing and managing), but firstly I train as a player and try to be ready and then when we are not training I have to step into the manager’s role. It’s a new experience for me and I am learning to cope with it,” said the Frenchman.

The former Chelsea striker highlighted his last year’s stint as a player in the ISL is coming handy as he knows the players and the league much better. “Since I played here last season, I knew a bit about the ISL and that’s why I was given this role. For me too it’s easier because I already know many players from the squad who were there last year and those who are new, I know having played against them last season. So I know how to use them and so far it’s gone well,” added the 36-year-old.

But manager Nicolas Anelka will be without star forward Sunil Chhetri and first choice goalkeeper Subrata Pal for Mumbai’s opening against local rivals FC Pune City. But Nicolas isn’t too miffed about their absence after having a number of attacking options at his disposal.

“We know we are going to miss Sunil and Subrata for a few games and that’s why we have gone for a lot of options. I always like to have many attackers in the team as automatically you have lot of goals in the team and hence you have a greater chance to win games,” the Mumbai City FC marquee player suggested.

Apart from Sunil Chhetri, Nicolas Anelka has himself, Sony Norde, Andre Moritz, Brandon Fernandes, Selim Benachour and Gabriel Fernandes to pick from in the attacking roles and Nicolas Anelka feels the plethora of attacking talent will help him surprise opponents. “I am happy to have so many options. The schedule is quite hectic and we need to keep our players fresh. Plus all our attacking players are different and hence we can use so many combinations tactically as per our opponent. That gives us a great advantage.”

Nicolas Anelka’s men face two tough away games to start off against Pune and Kerala, but victories in these two away games could go a long way in deciding Mumbai City FC’s fate as the Blue Devils return to play five consecutive home games after that.