I think there are around eight teams in contention – Petr Kratky feels the upcoming ISL season will have tough competition

The reigning champions Mumbai City FC’s head coach Petr Kratky believes the forthcoming Indian Super League season will have tough competition and there will be around eight teams in contention for the top spot in the league standings.

13 teams will take part in the upcoming season of the ISL for the first time after the addition of the I-league champions Mohammedan SC. At the end of the league phase, the top six teams in the standings will qualify for the playoffs.

Kratky feels if there will be traffic at the top of the points table, it would be good for Indian football.

“I don’t think there will be only one or two or three teams who will dominate the whole season,” Kratky said during the ISL Media Day in Kochi. 

“I think there are around eight teams in contention this season, which is fantastic for us and we are excited about what will happen in Indian football and ISL this season. But I think we will be closer and closer to each other, even the teams were having problems at the start but they are getting on the board now, people are coming and investing fantastic money and I think we will be just better as we go forward,” he added. 

Meanwhile, players like Jon Toral, Brandon Fernandes, Nikolaos Karelis have joined in while the likes of Apuia, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, and Rahul Bheke have left the club. 

Speaking on the changes, Kratky said, “People come and go but we try to always put them together and work in the same direction. Overall, I’m very happy with what’s happening and how we are going. Only we will see in Round 1 how we go,” Kratky said. 

“We started a new chapter, which I’m very excited about.  We’re working very hard behind the scenes on the training pitch to achieve our goals. But, you know, it’s continuous,” he added. 

“We are implementing processes to make sure it is sustainable for the future as well. We just don’t want to be average, we want to be on the top all the time,” he continued. 

Mumbai City will begin their title defense against ISL League Shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on 13th September.