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Mohammedan Sporting Club will hope that the loss against Indian Arrows is water under the bridge when facing Aizawl FC in the ongoing I-League on Thursday.
The match is slated for a 2pm kick-off at the Saltlake Stadium and will be broadcast LIVE on 1 Sports with online streaming available on 1 Sports’ Facebook page.
The Black Panthers saw their unbeaten run cut short to six games when they were beaten 0-1 by the Indian Arrows last week.
Tactically Mohammedan Sporting looked poorer with defenders exposed and looked incredibly vulnerable. There was no intensity in their play, they kept playing long balls, losing possession cheaply and failed to find the penetration needed to threaten the rival goal.
Despite his disappointment with the result Mohammedan Sporting head coach Jose Hevia remains confident that his team will bounce back from their poor performance.
“The previous game was an eye opener for the team. The players have put the disappointment behind and fully focused on the upcoming game against Aizawl. Looking at the team and their commitment at training, I am confident we will do well,” Hevia said.
It’s a match Hevia will obviously be desperate to get a reaction from his men, but has admitted he faces a tough task to lift the battered morale of his players.
“It’s never feels good when you lose a match, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Hevia added. “Even in the dressing room we are being realistic because there are still many matches to play and many points to play for. We need to remind players that it’s not the end of the world.”
Mohammedan Sporting currently occupies fourth position on the league table with 10 points from seven matches. “We are aware of the log situation,” commented the coach, before adding, “We prepare to win every match that we play.”
“Aizawl FC are a good team,” Hevia pointed out. “They have some enterprising players, but at the end of the day we want to win and collect the three points. It won’t be easy, but we are ready to win this one.”
One aspect of their game that Mohammedan Sporting will need to improve heading into the duel against Aizawl is their striking as they had numerous chances against the Indian Arrows, including two one-on-one situations that they didn’t utilize.
Looking ahead Hevia knows playing Aizawl will require a different approach, however he is confident in his squad’s ability to step up to the challenge.
The game will see former Mohammedan Sporting coach Yan Law, who left under extremely bitter and controversial circumstances, go up against his former employers for the first time since leaving the club in October, giving the game an added twist.
Hevia and his technical team at Mohammedan Sporting will be boosted with the availability of Jamal Bhuyan with the influential midfielder having recovered from an injury. Meanwhile, striker Pedro Manzi is also available for selection after finishing the mandatory seven-days quarantine period and might make his debut in this game.
