Kratky praises Mumbai City FC's second-half response against Punjab FC
Mumbai City FC head coach Peter Kratky shared his thoughts on the team's spirited comeback and their commitment to improvement following a hard-fought draw against Punjab FC.

Mumbai City FC head coach Peter Kratky expressed pride in his team’s spirit and resilience during their 1-1 draw against Punjab FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday.
In the post-match press conference, Kratky emphasized the importance of bouncing back from setbacks and praised his players for their determination.
The match saw Luka Majcen give the hosts the lead in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Mumbai City FC responded with a composed strike from Nikolaos Karelis in the 58th minute, ensuring they shared the spoils with the Shers. Both teams created chances, but neither could find the net in the final minutes.
FT: PFC 1⃣-1⃣ MCFC
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) January 16, 2025
Points shared in Delhi. We go again on the 26th 💪#PFCMCFC #ISL #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/YYyRYveKeH
Reflecting on earning a point after a loss and sitting in sixth place on the table, Kratky emphasized, “I believe we are going in a different direction, I think we are going up. We have had a couple of bad runs at home, but the team is very strong and I'm very proud of the group today because they showed spirit, it's a very difficult bounce back," Kratky said at the post-match press conference.
“Punjab FC beat us 3-0 at home (in the first leg), so a very difficult team to play, they had a couple of bad runs on their own, but again we fought back, we went 1-0 down and we regrouped halftime and we came back and we almost won the game, so I'm extremely proud of the group,” he added
Kratky noted the improved energy and execution in this game and emphasized the promising future ahead for the team.
“We will have a very strong end to the season, we played very well today in my opinion, far better, there was much more energy and again very proud of the group, so again we go game by game, we don't look at what is on the ladder now, we have next game to play and we will do our best to win the games,” he said.
Addressing the team's challenges, including a lack of creativity in midfield and injuries to key players like Jeremy Manzorro and Jon Toral, Kratky commended his squad's work ethic.
“Yeah, it could be [that they took time to adjust], but again they are professionals. We missed Jon (Toral) for a couple of weeks because he got tackled very badly and got injured. We miss Jeremy because he fell on his knee. These things happen. But Nikolos Karelis is scoring goals—what else do you want from a striker? He had one chance, and he scored, which is fantastic,” Kratky said.
He also had words of praise for players like Bipin Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, and Ayush Chhikara, who almost scored the winning goal but for an off-the-line clearance by a Punjab FC defender.
“Not every game, not every year you score 15 goals and everyone scores. These guys are working extremely hard and getting better every day. Bipin is a very hardworking person, and he will get rewarded... This is our mentality—we never give up, we just keep working,” he stated.
Kratky also highlighted the importance of maintaining processes, recovery, and preparation.
“We will regroup tomorrow morning, do the recovery properly, and then analyze the game and give feedback. There were a lot of positives, so we will do our preparation to the best of our abilities. Going 1-0 down, playing good football in the second half, and scoring goals shows the boys can be in good spirits,” he explained.
With ten days remaining before their next match against Mohammedan SC on January 26th, Kratky acknowledged the strength of his squad and its potential.
“I believe in this squad. They are very good players, as they are showing. They have good spirits and are fighting. Now, it’s about focusing on the next game,” he concluded.