Mumbai City FC defender Mehtab Singh feels playing with an all-Indian squad against teams with quality foreign players serves as extra motivation for his teammates as they look to add the Hero Super Cup to their trophy cabinet. 

The Islanders who have come into the competition without any of their foreign players, placing faith in their Indian contingent face Chennaiyin FC in a must-win match on Wednesday. 

Tied on points with NorthEast United FC, Des Buckingham’s men need to beat Thomas Brdaric’s side and hope the Highlanders don’t match their result to book a place in the semi-final against Odisha FC. 

However, Mehtab who has been one of Mumbai City FC’s most consistent players this season feels the players are confident of getting the job done. 

“Being an all-Indian squad gives us more motivation to do well and prove ourselves. We will have to work extra hard as they (Chennaiyin FC) have good foreigners but we want to show that we can play well with all Indian players,” he told the club’s media team on Wednesday. 

“It has been a good experience playing with an all-Indian squad and facing teams with foreign players. This also helps those players who didn't get too many chances to play during Hero ISL. They are playing and gaining confidence. They played well in the first two matches and we will do better as a team against Chennaiyin FC,” added the 24-year-old. 

Mumbai City FC are unbeaten in their last seven matches against the Marina Machans in all competitions that includes league doubles in each of the last two Hero ISL seasons. Mehtab Believes the team will draw confidence from this record. 

“The preparation for the must-win game against Chennaiyin FC is going well. We played well in the first match which we won. We also did well in the second match but we were unlucky to lose. We did well as a team. The fact that we beat them twice in the Hero ISL gives us confidence,” he said. 

The defender scored the team’s equaliser in their Hero Super Cup opener against Churchill Brothers and expressed delight at being able to help the team’s cause. 

“As a defender, it's our job to try and score on set-pieces. And we were a goal down so there was a real desire to use any opportunity that we have. So, it was good to score a goal on that set-piece and help the team,” he concluded.

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