ISL 2023-24, Mumbai City Season Review: Petr Kratky Finished Off What Des Buckingham Started

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ISL 2023-24: Mumbai City FC have had one of the most tumultuous runs this season. Starting from losing their coach at the start of ISL 2023-24 to losing most of their key foreigners, they have had to endure it all and still give everyone a run for their money for the shield and the cup.

Only a draw in their last match of the season would have won them their 2nd consecutive Indian Super League shield. However, the match was against Mohun Bagan who have also been incredible this season at Salt Lake Stadium in front of over 60000 away fans.

They missed their chance, but they dusted off that defeat quickly and came back to the same stadium only a few weeks later and won the cup this time against the Mariners. This almost depicts their season of extreme ups and downs.

Looking back, they lost two key players from last season, Mourtada Fall and Ahmed Jahouh in last summer transfer window. Even so, they brought reinforcements in the form of Yoell van Nieff and Tiri and started the season strong.

Disaster struck when their head coach Des Buckingham left after only five matches into the season. They employed Petr Kratky as their new head coach and it was first time leading a team as the head of the department.

Added to their agony was their AFC Champions League matches where they could not stand at all against the other teams in the group. They fell out of the group stage with no wins and only a single goal to their names from six matches.

However, coming back to the Indian Super League, they were having a decent run when the league went on a break. As the second half started, they brought in Iker Guarrotxena who was proving to be a asset, but only for so long because he soon sustained a season-long injury.

With the lack of key foreigners backing the frontline, the Indian players came up big for the Islanders and kept the shield dream alive. Lalianzualla Chhangte and Vikram Partap Singh were at the centre of this marvellous run that ultimately won them the cup.