Injury-ridden Sporting Clube de Goa to launch nervous Fed Cup campaign at Mumbai FC's home

I-LEAGUE has come to an end and now the top eight clubs will fight for the Federation Cup. Mumbai FC take on Sporting Clube de Goa in their opening match at the Cooperage tomorrow.

Both the coaches seemed to be cautiously confident ahead of the match in the pre-match press conference.

When asked if they were happy with the new home-away knockout format of the Fed Cup, Sporting's coach Mateus Costa said,

"Yes definitely, it is a good format. We can't have more chances, just home and away matches. It is a good thing but there is immense pressure too. Away matches here in Mumbai are a bit difficult as they are backed by a huge crowd of supporters. We have to definitely put up a great show because Mumbai have a great team and to play on their home turf, it's always a difficult job."

Responding to the same question, Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil said,

"It's a new idea, it sounds good. Only once the tournament is ended you will know if it has been productive but I think it will be good."

The last two matches were good for the both the teams, so they would want to carry the same momentum ahead. SCG coach Mateus Costa said he was drawing much hope from the recent performances put up by his boys,

"Yes it has definitely given us a good boost, the players are in good shape and are just raring to go and hopefully we can put up a good show tomorrow."

Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil was keen to take the positives from the recent home matches his team has played, the last two resulting in wins that saved them from relegation,

"The home matches have been good for us but now this is a new tournament with new fresh formats. Sporting are a strong and solid team. We drew the last match we played against them at home, luckily we got a point. So we have to up our performance when get against them tomorrow."

Sporting will be playing without the likes of Odafa Onyeka Okolie and Mahmoud Amnah due to a knee injury and hamstring, which when taking on a fully-fit Mumbai FC team at their own backyard is not the easiest of prospects. In the last couple of games there was a sense that the Yellow Brigade had finally found their groove; it came a bit too late to make their mark in the league, but may pay back in dividends now in the Federation Cup.