Petr Kratky wants Mumbai City FC to prove their worth, says ‘New Season, new chapter’

Mumbai City FC coach Petr Kratky revealed that each player in the Indian Super League side will have to prove their worth throughout the 2024-2025 season, and also stated his motto to focus on the present rather than the past. Kratky explained that the side will have to move beyond their winning-high from their ISL 2023 title, and put all their focus on making the ongoing season a successful one.

The 42-year-old coach from Czechia joined Mumbai City FC midway into the ISL season last year, after the side’s former coach Des Buckingham left his role and signed with EFL League One side Oxford United. Kratky went on to guide the side to the League title last season on top of some dominating performances, which even included a thumping 3-1 win over heavyweights Mohunbagan Super Giants in the final. However, Kratky wants his team to move on from last year’s glory, and only think about their objectives for the ongoing season.

“It’s a bit easier, because we have a lot of new players. So, the challenge of new players is also some benefit, because they want to show who they are, they want to show what they have. And I have never lived in the past. What’s happened has happened. Every season is different. Yes, the club won something in the previous year, but now, if you see, it’s a new chapter. So we can’t live in the past,” Kratky told India Today through an interaction by Sony Sports.

“We have to move forward. And then we have good players who want to prove why they are here and what they want to play, even if it’s young Indians or international players. So the motivation is still there. But you know, they need to prove why they’re here. I always tell them I don’t care what happened last year, it is done. So that’s my motto. Not too much thinking about what we did last season. We just need to move forward. It’s a new season, a new chapter, and try to prove it again. We are in top form and need to be in the top four teams in the league,” Kratky added.

Mumbai City FC’s featured their reserved squad for their Durand Cup campaign, which faced an early end after they failed to win any of their Group C matches, which included clubs like Kerala Blasters, Punjab FC and CISF Protectors. However, Kratky and his side will now keep al their focus on their first team players ensuring some good performances in the upcoming ISL season.