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After a disappointing first season, Mumbai City FC are ready to start afresh and make a real tilt at the ISL title and have assembled a much stronger looking team for the ISL Season Two. Having retained the services of Nicholas Anelka, Subrata Pal and Andre Moritz from last season, Mumbai City FC substantially added some bite up front by picking up Sunil Chhetri in the auctions and signing Sony Norde on loan from Mohun Bagan.Mumbai City FC open their campaign away to local rival FC Pune City on Monday, 5th October and as we build up to the big kick-off of ISL Season Two, we take a look at five players to watch our for from this talented Mumbai City FC squad.
#1 Sunil Chhetri
After having recently broken the record to become India’s all-time leading goal scorer, the ISL brings a new chapter in the career of Sunil Chhetri, who after missing out on Season One is ready to show his class to the world.
Having scored truckloads of goals at various Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan, JCT, East Bengal and now Bengaluru FC, Chhetri is all set to take the city of dreams by storm. Chhetri is the man for the big occasion and has always stepped up to the plate in games which matter the most.
Chhetri’s versatility in the forward areas will be an asset to the Mumbai City FC side. Playing with the likes of Anelka, Sony Norde and Andre Moritz, Mumbai City FC can keep the opposition defenders guessing, with Chhetri being able to interchange with each one of them.
Chhetri was often marked out of games in the I-League last season, but with so many talented players around him, it will be a nightmare for defenders to pick him up, thus allowing him to cause all sorts of problems for the opposition backline.
#2 Sony Norde
The Haiti International was arguably the pick of the players in the recently concluded I-League which ended in Sony’s team Mohun Bagan being crowned champions. Norde terrorized the opposition full-backs as they had no answer to his trickery and pace all season long.
Sony Norde was instrumental in aiding Mohun Bagan’s march to I-League glory last term as he scored 9 times for the Mariners while coming up with 13 assists in the process.
Mumbai City FC will present Sony Norde with a greater stage as he will team up with the likes of Anelka and Chhetri, making him even more deadly. Norde will be tasked with the responsibility of creating space for the likes of Chhetri, Anelka and Moritz to exploit by stretching the play out wide, making him a truly vital cog in the Mumbai City FC attack.
On the other hand, Sony Norde will be equally deadly when cutting in on his right foot as he attempts to find the far top corner. Not many have acknowledged his signing, but he is going to play a huge part if Mumbai City FC are to be crowned Champions.
#3 Andre Moritz
The only player to score a hat-trick in the ISL, Andre Moritz will once again play a huge role in the heart of the Mumbai City FC midfield. Moritz fizzled out after an explosive start to his Mumbai City FC career, but Ranbir Kapoor and Co. decided to retain his services, keeping in mind his eye for goal.
As the defenders will be engaged nullifying the threats of the Anelkas and the Chhetris, Moritz will get opportunities to venture into the box and sneak a few goals in.
Moritz’s contribution from midfield in terms of goals will be vital and could be the difference between Mumbai City FC making the top four and not. But Moritz will have to add a bit more consistency to his game and a return of four to five goals would do wonders to Mumbai City FC’s bid to claim the ISL title.
#4 Pavel Cmovs
While the world was busy taking note of Mumbai City FC’s attacking riches, the Blue Devils pulled off a coup by retaining Czech defender Pavel Cmovs. Cmovs had a solid first season in the ISL and that experience will make him a better player this time around. Cmovs has played for the likes of Levski Sofia in Europe and has great experience despite being aged just twenty-five.
Cmovs is a leader and will be responsible for organizing the Mumbai City FC defence. Cmovs has forged a solid looking partnership with Franz Bertin in pre-season.
With the duo flanked by young Indian players in Lalchhuanmawia Fanai and Ashutosh Mehta in defence, Cmovs’ presence in defence is going to be extremely vital for Mumbai City FC. If he has a good season, the strike force will do what is necessary to push Mumbai City closer and closer to the ISL title.
#5 Subrata Pal
The veteran Indian goalkeeper, nicknamed the Spiderman of India, is still the safest pair of hands to play between the sticks, in Indian football. Facing an untested defense in front of him, Subrata will have to be on his toes and get a rapport with his back four.
It seemed Nicholas Anelka made Subrata’s job easy by identifying his best back four early on, allowing the super shot-stopper to get to know them well. With Debjit Majumder hot on his heels, Subrata Pal will have to be at his best to stave off any competition from the young goalkeeper, which may only bring the very best out of him.
Subrata Pal’s experience will come handy for Mumbai City FC and having him behind the back four will make the entire squad feel extremely secure.
