Mumbai City FC’s new signing Adam le Fondre, who joined the team on loan from Sydney FC, believes he can take the Islanders all the way to the trophy in the 2020-21 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL).

“I wouldn’t have joined if I didn’t think we could win something. They are a very strong squad and I expect us to do really well,” le Fondre told olympicchannel.com.

Mumbai City FC roped in the services of England-born le Fondre for his goal-scoring prowess; he enjoyed great success in Australia as he inspired Sydney FC to two Grand Final wins and one Premier Cup win in two seasons. He intends to replicate his success now with the Mumbai-based club.

Talking about his style of play, the forward said: “I am very efficient in the box. I work hard. I am very much a team player but at the same time, I am selfish. As a goal-scorer, you tend to be very selfish. I would say, I am an out-and-out goal-scorer and I plan on doing that here as well.”

Before joining Sydney FC in 2018, the 33-year-old rose through the ranks of English football and enjoyed stints at Reading FC, Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Le Fondre regards his new journey with Mumbai City FC as an ‘adventure’ and considers it to be similar to his Australian campaign. “It’s an adventure I took up and I really wanted to do it. I went to Australia without knowing much and without talking to many people. I sort of threw myself into it. That’s something that I plan on doing here as well,” he said.

The forward believes his passion for football will help him get on with his new teammates and win matches. “Look, football’s a universal language. It’s pretty much the same everywhere. They adjust to you and you adjust to them. You hope that you can impact the team and help them win,” he said.

Le Fondre hit the ground running ahead of Hero ISL 2020 by netting the winner in a pre-season friendly against Chennaiyin FC. Mumbai City FC begin their campaign against NorthEast United FC on November 21 at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco.