ISL | Kerala Blasters takes on a hungry Mumbai City in last home game

Fight for pride: Blasters, already out of the playoff race, will be keen on giving something to cheer for the fans.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

Kerala Blasters FC play a very hungry Mumbai City in its last ISL home game at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

While Blasters are no longer in the playoff race, Mumbai – currently seventh – needs just a point to take the last playoff berth. But the visitor will be trying to take the maximum from here to climb a higher perch in the league table.

That could make life difficult for KBFC, currently in the ninth rung, but interim head coach T.G. Purushothaman stressed that his team would put up a strong fight.

“Every game matters. We represent this club and our responsibility is to compete with full intensity,” Purushothaman told The Hindu on Friday.

“Mumbai is a strong team and we need to show our quality and fight for our fans. It’s about pride, professionalism and preparing well for the Super Cup.”

However, KBFC will be without its top goal-getter Jesus Jimenez, who will miss his second straight game with an injury.

Mumbai has two league matches in hand and head coach Petr Kratky said every point would be crucial.

“Every game counts, every point counts, we’ll try our best to finish as high as we can and try and gain home-game advantage (for the playoffs) if possible”.