Mumbai City FC and ATK Mohun Bagan have both reached the Indian Super League playoffs this season. However, both teams have the chance to finish the league stage at the top of the overall standings on Sunday
Mumbai City FC’s CY Goddard celebrates after scoring his first Indian Super League goal against Odisha FC on Wednesday.
Courtesy of Sportzpics for ISL
Mumbai: Mumbai City FC may have reached the Indian Super League playoffs this season, but Cy Goddard believes team ATK will have to beat Mohun Bagan in their « massive » game on Sunday to decide which team the league stage ended at the top of the ranking.
“This game is like a final (for us). Whoever wins this game wins the league. We really have nothing to lose.
“When we started the season, our goal was to be number one in the league. We really want to win this. It’s a huge game for us. And for them too, ”Goddard told Firstpost. « Our goal wasn’t just to get to the playoffs. It was to win the league. I wouldn’t say we’re happy if we make it to the playoffs. We want to win the league. »
The both teams have met before this season, and Mumbai scored a 1-0 win. The circumstances that predict both collisions could not be more different. As early as January, when the two teams met, Mumbai was at the top of the rankings with ATK Mohun Bagan.
Mumbai entered this duel in January after an unbeaten series of eight games. However, they are currently runner-up overall, with a wobble in early February that lost eight points.
« It won’t always be a smooth sailing (in a league) for any team. If you are into the If you look at top teams, they will run through such spells. There are only 20 regular season games in this league. A couple of slip-ups in a row can put you in a bad situation. You can’t really win every game. You have to be very lucky, to sail smoothly in the season. Even if you are a top team there will be spells to get through. We believe in ourselves. We believe in our quality.
« For us, it’s all about Believe. We know if we play well we will beat most of the teams on our day. «
The loan move for Goddard was announced just over a month before the season started in a bio-safe bubble in Goa. But despite the cultural change, playing in a new league under a new manager with new teammates with hardly a preseason to play Goddard made a name for himself playing Sergio Lobera’s midfield or on the wings in 18 of 19 games in Mumbai.
« It’s not easy for someone to join a new team and a new environment . Of course there will be some challenges, ”said the 23-year-old. « Because the preseason was so short, we didn’t have the time we would have liked to have prepared for the start of the season. However, this applies to all teams. For most people that was the hardest part. And now the season is probably going in a bio- safe bubble that you can’t see your family or friends in. That is probably the second thing that is very challenging. «
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February 28, 2021 11:01:51 AM IST
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In this episode, we look at the games that would determine the ISL 2020-21 League Winners Shield champion and playoff teams.
Goals from Luis Machado (9th and 24th) and Deshorn Brown (19th) helped the Highlanders to third place and strengthened their chances of qualifying for the play-offs
ATK Mohun Bagan further consolidated its position at the top with 39 points from 18 games.
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Ref: https://www.firstpost.com