I-League Media Team

Mumbai: Gameweek 17 in the I-League will see Mumbai FC lock horns with Shillong Lajong at the Cooperage Football Ground, Mumbai where the wooden spoon holders host the highlanders in their penultimate home fixture.

Shillong Lajong Head Coach Thangboi Singto expressed his views at the pre-match press conference saying, “We’re currently in the fifth position. It is our best ever position in I-League history. So now we’ll look to finish as high as possible.”

“Incidentally our best I-League result came against Mumbai FC so we will be optimistic about our chances tomorrow. Mumbai FC is gaining the momentum as they are good side too, a good mix of experience and a blend of foreign and Indian players; we’ll be on our toes.”

“Football is primarily about consistency. However, it is mostly about winning. In addition, for professionals winning is everything. The best team has to win. For us, it is about developing Indian players and producing players for the national team. We’ve progressed leaps and bounds this year, we have the majority of players in their twenties.”

Mumbai FC head coach Oscar Bruzon was similarly optimistic.

“We’ve been working hard and preparing well. Our strategy for the remaining two games is simple, score, and win, as simple as that. We have to win the remaining two matches without to have any choice. We will also have to depend on a couple of other teams to help us out.”

“Densill Theobald and Djelaludin Sharityar have picked up slight knocks. We’ll decide their status after a late fitness test.”

Mumbai FC, currently rooted to the bottom of the I-League and have two games to salvage some pride as today’s win already saved Churchill Brothers FC Goa from getting relegated. Incidentally, it’s the first season when Mumbai FC are going to be relegated after their eight-year stint in the top tier of Indian Football. Shillong Lajong are currently fifth and look to reach as high as possible.

The match will kick off at 07:00 PM and it’ll be aired live on Ten 2.