'Nathan has the quality and potential to grow': Mumbai City FC Coach Petr Kratky

Mumbai City FC head coach Petr Kratky expressed a mix of satisfaction and caution following their 4-2 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday.

This win marked their first home victory of the season, powered by strong performances from Nikolaos Karelis, Nathan Rodrigues, and Lallianzuala Chhangte.

The thrilling encounter began with Karelis putting Mumbai City in control early, scoring in the 9th minute and adding another through a penalty in the 55th minute.

However, Kerala Blasters quickly fought back. Jesus Jimenez’s penalty in the 57th minute and Kwame Peprah’s 71st-minute header leveled the score.

Peprah's subsequent red card in the 72nd minute shifted momentum back to Mumbai City, allowing Rodrigues to score his first goal for the Islanders in the 75th minute, with Chhangte sealing the game with a final goal in the 90th minute.

Reflecting on the win, Kratky praised his team’s offensive efforts but acknowledged lapses that allowed Kerala Blasters to equalize after a two-goal lead.

"I think we scored four great goals, and our team consistently created goal-scoring chances. But we need to work on finishing those chances and also understand why we conceded two goals. We were leading 2-0, and we need to avoid those situations," he stated.

Kratky also highlighted Nathan Rodrigues' contribution in securing the lead after Peprah’s equalizer, recognizing Rodrigues’ potential while stressing the importance of consistency, particularly for younger players.

“Nathan has the quality and potential to grow. Consistency is key, especially for young players like him. He will have ups and downs, but we are here to support him in becoming the best version of himself," Kratky noted.

Looking forward, Kratky emphasized the importance of improvement in various aspects, particularly adapting to long-ball games as they prepare to face Chennaiyin FC on November 9.

“There are areas we need to refine, like dealing with long balls and second balls. Perfection isn’t realistic; players will make mistakes, but it’s a journey. I want them to give their best every game, and we’ll continue building on that,” he concluded.

Mumbai City FC will aim to maintain their momentum and capitalize on this home victory as they head into their upcoming away fixture.