ISL 2019-20 | Most important target is to be in top-four, says Paulo Machado

Mumbai City FC are gearing up for yet another challenging season and are hoping to make it to the top four. Skipper Paulo Machado has said that this year he expects the team to make it to the top four and they have a better pool of players to choose from this time around.

“This season, we expect to be in the top four again. We will have a better team and we will see [the performance] when we start [the campaign]. To win the title, you must reach the play-offs, but for us the most important target is to be in the top four, then everything is possible,” Machado told PTI.

Last season, Mumbai’s blistering campaign ended in the semi-finals after a resounding loss to FC Goa 2-5 (on aggregate). The Gaurs were runners-up, losing to champions Bengaluru FC 0-1.

“This pre-season, we were strong and different from other teams because we worked almost for two months,” said the skipper.

Mumbai’s star player Modou Sougou of Senegal, who netted 12 goals last season, said that in football the past does not matter and every team is better now.

“If you compare the last season with this one, all the teams are better, and so many teams invest to have better players, that is why the season will be difficult,” Sougou said.

“We have more balance in the squad. For us, our first target is to be in the top four and after that let’s see what happens,” he added.

Indian national Rowlin Borges, who is one of the heavyweight acquisitions by MCFC this season, has said that he was giving his best and expects to deliver for the team. Borges has spent the past three seasons playing for NorthEast United FC.