Manolo Márquez targets winning start as Mumbai City FC open ISL 2026-27 at Fatorda
Manolo Márquez is aiming for a winning start as Mumbai City FC begin their Indian Super League 2026-27 campaign away to Churchill Brothers SC at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on October 11, 2026, 7:30 PM IST.
Mumbai arrive having finished third in the league last season, one point behind the top two, and will face a return to the home-and-away format in the new campaign. Márquez, who has previously managed Hyderabad FC and FC Goa, has taken charge at Mumbai City after three seasons at Goa; he said, “In three years, you need to change the coach or change the players.” The club have retained an Indian core that helped last season’s finish and have added reinforcements in areas the coach identified.
Márquez described Churchill Brothers as an unfamiliar challenge due to limited information about their squad following a late pre-season, and said the Islanders must prioritise their own performance rather than over-analysing the opposition. He stressed the need for his team to convert pre-season preparation into a positive result on Sunday. The match will serve as the first competitive test of Márquez’s methods with points on the line.
Mumbai’s pre-season spanned seven weeks but was disrupted by the international commitments of several players, a situation Márquez said could affect the early stages of the campaign without becoming an excuse. He highlighted a wider issue around fixture planning and called for earlier confirmation of schedules, saying, “I think it is important to make the fixtures known earlier,” and emphasised that clubs need confirmed schedules to plan their preparations effectively.
The coach said he was satisfied with the squad assembled for the new season, noting additions to strengthen weak areas while keeping the domestic core intact. Márquez has followed Mumbai’s progress under previous coaches Sergio Lobera, Des Buckingham and Petr Kratky and regards the club accordingly. He said his tactical approach will be shaped by the players available and by the priority of producing results alongside good football.
Asked what supporters could expect, Márquez said the side would aim to balance attractive play with winning matches and observed, “Mumbai have traditionally played good football.” He acknowledged the expectations attached to the job but urged players to focus on preparation and performance rather than the club’s history, and he assured fans the team would give everything on the pitch without promising specific results.
Midfielder Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung, popularly known as Tluanga, who joined Mumbai City last season, said experienced Indian and foreign teammates helped him settle despite limited preparation last year and that the transition should be smoother under an experienced head coach. He noted that pre-season friendlies against local opponents helped the squad adapt to Márquez’s instructions and said, “I will give my best, but the most important thing is to follow the coach’s instructions.” He added the team would have a good chance of winning if the players executed the game plan effectively.
Sunday’s fixture will give Márquez a chance to assess how well his players translate pre-season work into competitive performance; it is followed by two further away games at Punjab FC and Kerala Blasters before Mumbai return to the Mumbai Football Arena to face Sporting Club Delhi on November 1.