Mumbai City FC To Consolidate With 6 Foreigners In Starting XI 

Oscar Bruzon...Has helped Goans get a level playing field in ISL

Mumbai City FC will use six foreign players in their starting eleven. Coach and marquee player who was down in India till yesterday is supposed to have taken this decision after a four day consultation with assistant coach Oscar Bruzon and the rest of the team staff in the city. The Indian players are expected to assemble prior to the international players who are to arrive in India along with Anelka on August 26.

Anelka is supposed to have discussed the role of the foreign players in this edition of the ISL with his team in India.  “Each Indian player is going to be evaluated during the training session with zero base marks. The best will find their place among the five Indian Anelka will field,” stated Mumbai City FC assistant coach Oscar Bruzon in an exclusive interview to The Goan.

“The Indian players were not discussed in this trip of his. Other logistics related to the team training and the strategy of team composition were spelt out by Nicolas Anelka during his short  trip to Mumbai,” stated Oscar.

“A lot of thought has gone in the selection of all players in the draft. Except for goalkeeper Albino Gomes who was picket as a development player (read U-23) all the rest were grabbed for their abilities to develop their playing skills. All Goan players have an equal chance of making it to the first eleven. It all depends on how they fare during the practise sessions,” disclosed Oscar while emphasising no player starts with a favourite tag.

“We agreed that practising in Europe will not help players acclimatise to the conditions in India. Anelka has discussed a few places where the team could practise. Four places have been spoken about and a decision will be taken on where we go, depending on the availability of good grounds,” stated Oscar.

“Rowilson , Pratesh, Brandon and Gabriel  are there in the team because they have a lot to offer. Each of the players can develop a career graph for himself. They are all equally talented and none are here because they are my favourites. They possess good football skills. Skills that they can complement learning with the other senior members,” suggested Oscar.

Mumbai City FC has nine foreign players in its roster till date. Two are from Spain- midfielders  Juan Agulera  Nunez and Cristian Bustos, defender Andre Mortiz from Brazil,defender Darren O Dea from Ireland,midfielder Sony Norde and defender  Frantz Bertin from Haiti, Pavel CMos from Czech Republic in the defense, Selim Benachour from Tunisia in the midfield and Nicolas Anelka  upfront.

Mumbai FC City took the auction for Sunil Chetri to the banks literally and the ageing Indian striker will be expected to make up for Anelka’s fall in running rhythm too.