Punjab FC have made an excellent start to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season and sit in fourth place in the table after eight games and are just two points off the top of the table.

A year ago, the Shers were struggling to get a victory to their name as they settled into life in the ISL, but have already claimed five wins in ISL 2024-25 which is just one fewer than what they achieved in the entire 2023-24 campaign.

Punjab FC’s 3-0 win at Mumbai City FC on Tuesday rubberstamped their progress and if there is one player in the Shers camp that has personified this growth, its midfielder Nikhil Prabhu.

Primarily a defender, Prabhu was shifted to a midfield role with Punjab FC last season and since then he has gone from strength to strength.

The 24-year-old has lent excellent balance to the Punjab FC midfield with him contributing in both attack and defence. He has won 39 duels this season while also creating three chances for his team as he has started every game for the Shers.

Back in his hometown Mumbai, Prabhu imposed himself in the middle of the park and never let the Islanders midfield settle into any kind of rhythm as Punjab FC secured a famous victory as the home of the defending ISL Cup winners. It was a special evening for him.

“I had my parents in the stands and that support matters to me a lot,” he told indiansuperleague.com after the game.

“They were in tears as they said they are proud of me. They just asked me to keep my head down and keep working,” he added.

The 24-year-old shed light on the team’s mentality as they went up against formidable opponents who were unbeaten on their own patch since February.

“The only difficult thing was that we had soreness as we played two days ago. We had to play according to the plan,” he said.

“It's always difficult for the opponents to get a win against us. It's a good feeling to be an underdog. We were prepared for Mumbai City FC and if teams are not prepared for us, they will have a hard time. I am happy with the win and the most important thing is the clean sheet,” he added.

Speaking about his own performances this season, Prabhu revealed what has changed for him.

“Last year, I changed my position and there were not too many responsibilities. But this year, the coach has given me a lot of responsibilities and I have to fulfil them. I am loving it. It has made me better,” he said.

He also credited head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis for having faith in him and the team.

“It's all about confidence. If the coach trusts me and gives me the confidence, then I am the best player in the world. If you see Leon. He is a winger but he is doing very well as a left-back. So, if the coach trusts the player, he will do the job,” he added.

Punjab FC are now just two points off the top of the table and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season. However, Prabhu has urged his team to stay humble and keep working on their performances.

“In mid-season, we don't have to think about the table. It's a long season. Last season we were struggling to get a win and in the second half, we were fighting to reach the playoffs. That's how football is. Never think that you are the best, just be humble and keep working,” he said.

“Some days we will have hard days, some days we will have good days. But being humble is the most important thing. We are a team who will not make it easy for any opponent,” he added.

Prabhu also heaped praise on captain Luka Majcen, who was on the scoresheet again in Mumbai, for being an excellent example for the team.

“He is a fighter and fights for all the balls. Being around him motivates us. He is the captain and he asks us to fight and take responsibilities. When we make mistakes, he is the one who comes and motivates us. You need a big brother in the team that helps you a lot,” he added.

Punjab FC will now face Mohammedan SC and Jamshedpur FC in their next two games, two teams that are towards the lower end of the table, but the Shers who lost back-to-back games before their big win in Mumbai, will not take anything for granted.

It’s still a long way to go in the season, but the Shers are on the prowl.

Related tags:

2024-2025Punjab FC Nikhil Prabhu