ISL 2023-24: I will try to play better than the previous season – Lallianzuala Chhangte

Mumbai City FC winger Lallianzuala Chhangte wants to perform better for the club than the previous season. Chhangte played a key role in the Islanders’ Hero League Shield triumph in the 2022-23 season, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in the 22 matches he played.

In fact, in the 2021-22 season for Mumbai City FC, Chhangte could not even score a solitary goal in the seven games he played but he was able to turn the tables under the tutelage of Des Buckingham in the next season.

The 26-year-old wants to keep improving and deliver for the Islanders in the ongoing season.

“It was an amazing season (for me in 2022-23). It is a blessing from God. Credit goes to my family as they have been supporting me since I was a child and I will never forget what they have done for me because they believed in me even during my hardest times,” Chhangte said in an interview with the indiansuperleague.com earlier.

Chhangte has flowered under the guidance of Des Buckingham and gave credit to his teammates for getting the best out of him.

“I think I am able to reach this level because of the help from my teammates and certain coaches who played an important role and of course Mumbai City FC have built me on another level. I think this is just the beginning of a long journey I am about to take.”

The youngster is the second-highest all-time Indian goalscorer in the ISL after Sunil Chhetri. Furthermore, he became only the second Indian to win the ISL Golden Ball after Chhetri last season. Chhangte wants to keep going strong for the Islanders.

“It adds some more pressure and a big responsibility comes along with individual and collective trophies but this is a motivation for me to work harder than before. I know what I have to do. I want to be an example for my colleagues, my teammates and especially for the younger players. I will try to be an example on and off the pitch and work harder than before.”

He added: “It is really important to be consistent and that is what I will try to do. I know it is not going to be easy because other teams are getting good players but we have a brilliant team this year and with the help of my teammates I will try to work harder than last year and perform even better than last season. We will do our best individually and collectively to achieve what we could not achieve last year.”

Mumbai City FC will next take on Hyderabad FC at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai on 28th October.