It’s vital for me to have team identity: Zambrotta

Delhi Dynamos FC coach Gianluca Zambrotta stressed upon creating an identity for his team as he insisted on carrying the same formation and line-up ahead of their Hero Indian Super League clash against Mumbai City FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Mumbai City FC have shown great flexibility in their four matches with changing formations and player positions while Delhi has maintained the same formation throughout keeping an intact line-up.

“For me, it’s important to have an identity like a team. So, I would like to stick to my starting XI. Of course, minor changes do happen according to the on-field display,” said Zambrotta, whose team is unbeaten in the league so far.

On the other hand, Mumbai City FC coach Alexandre Guimaraes attributed the changing formations to both strategy and injury woes that have hit their team. “Yes, we do carry it an idea but we also make up for injuries and absence of players.”

Mumbai City FC arrived in Delhi without their captain and talisman Diego Forlan. The former Manchester United striker has still not recovered from his injury but the Guimaraes asserted that he should be fit for their next home clash against FC Goa.

Mumbai City FC started with a flourish winning their first two games and drawing the other one but were grounded by Kerala Blasters in the last game. Delhi Dynamos too had a similar experience as they dethroned defending champions Chennaiyin FC in a superb display of attacking football in their opening game but have since then settled for draws in their last two matches against Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United FC.

“We played a very good game against NorthEast United, if you consider that they are one of the best teams in the league. We had a lot of opportunities and of course we have to learn how we can utilise these opportunities. At the moment, I don’t think we have to change our strategy,’ Delhi Dynamos coach Gianluca Zambrotta said during the pre-match media briefing. 

The Costa Rican coach applauded Dynamos for their style of play saying, “I think Delhi Dynamos are doing well in the league. They try to play attractive football. They have shown they are a tough team. I hope we can have a good game.”

Mumbai City FC have a battle in hand for the next five matches as four will be played away and Guimaraes knows it won’t be easy.

“There is a block of four games in which three are away, so we know the importance to win points away as well. We did that in Pune but did not get any points in Kerala. We hope we can have a better game and take points. The tournament is showing us that every game is going to be tough,” said Guimaraes.