Glued to the display with their telephones out recording the thrill, the Mumbai City FC gamers broke out in jubilation when their title was introduced within the AFC Champions League draw, which was carried out in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. The pleasure was apparent as it might give most a first-hand expertise to lastly rub shoulders with soccer’s best stars who’ve not too long ago migrated from Europe to Asia. And it was the case because the Indian Super League (ISL) facet had been pooled beside Saudi’s Al-Hilal in Group D of the AFC Champions League, a membership that has not too long ago recruited the likes of Neymar Jr., Kalidou Koulibaly, Yassine Bounou, Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Aleksander Mitrovic in the summertime switch window.
Apart from the Saudi facet, Iran’s FC Nassaji Mazandaran, and Uzbekistan’s PFC Navbahor Namangan are additionally pooled in the identical group.
“Players had been excited, like they needed to face any one of many these groups. Some are like massive Ronaldo fan, in order that they needed Al-Nassr to be there. We all had been excited that we get one of many groups, and we received Al Hilal, so we’re tremendous excited for that,” said Mumbai captain Rahul Bheke in the press conference following the draw.
While the names mentioned above come with rich European experience, Neymar in particular attracts most of the limelight, given his and Brazil’s popularity in the sub-continent. And Bheke, who plays in the back four, might be the one with the task to stop the Brazilian.
The defender said he is “super excited” for the challenge, before adding “if I play that game, I will make sure to give my best will be to stop him.”
Mumbai are not new to the tournament, in fact they are the first Indian club to register a win in the competition. The Islanders had defeated Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya twice last season and will hope for a much improved outing this time around.
“Like last time we got the opportunity and we did our best. We got two wins but it was not enough to get qualified for the next round. But this year our target will be same that we have to get to the next round. So our preparations have already started. Now we’re in the middle of Durand Cup and then we will get two to three weeks before our first game. So we’ll do our best to prepare well,” said Bheke.
Preparation started with Durand Cup
Mumbai head coach Des Buckingham expressed happiness over the team’s performance in Durand Cup, stating it as part of their preparation for the upcoming AFC Champions League. He also noted this to be the reason behind Mumbai fielding a full strength squad as compared to other ISL sides, who are also part of the tournament.
Mumbai have made it to the quarterfinals of one of Asia’s oldest tournament, securing resounding wins in the three matches the team has played so far.
“We’ve come right here to the Durand Cup. Firstly we wish to be a profitable membership so we have introduced our full energy workforce right here with the view of making an attempt to go as far on this competitors as we will. And I’m very pleased with the three video games that we have performed thus far and the way we performed.
If we will go so far as we will, it offers us the chance to have aggressive video games to steer them into what would be the first sport of our season, which will probably be a Champions League sport. So it will not be an ISL sport for us,” the coach stated.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
