Tomasz Tchórz Vows Attacking Approach As Phoenixes Begin Home Campaign Against Mariners

New Delhi: Sporting Club Delhi face a second stern test on the spin when they host Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in New Delhi, in an MG Indian Super League clash, on Friday. Tomasz Tchórz’s young squad gave a good account of themselves in a thrilling 3-2 defeat away to Bengaluru FC in the season opener, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant are still smarting from their 1-0 loss to NorthEast United on Monday.

Delhi showed courage to lead at half-time in the garden city against the Blues, but ultimately fell short to an 89th-minute winner. Returning to Delhi, the Phoenixes will hope to pick up their first points of the campaign by capitalizing on home advantage.

“We know a lot about the (Mohun Bagan SG) players individually. Their Scottish striker is a tall player who can hold the ball well and Sahal is more like a playmaker. We’ll try to focus on them, but it’s also important how we play as a team collectively. We have to find solutions during the game,” said Tchórz, speaking to the media on the eve of the game.

Bagan will be without midfielder Deepak Tangri who is serving a suspension, but Dilmperis will be more worried about his attacking unit, who failed to capitalise on a number of chances in Guwahati. The Mariners did not address the media ahead of the game, with the Greek tactician having previously claimed that the ‘culture of the team demands wins’.

SC Delhi showed great continuity and high-tempo pressing in their season opener and Tchórz’s side will look to put the Mohun Bagan SG backline under heavy pressure early on, with the visitors possessing plenty of firepower in their ranks. In Lallianzuala Chhangte, Dejan Dražić and Lee Erwin, Dilmperis boasts one of the League’s best frontlines, who will need to be clinical to unlock a disciplined Delhi backline.

This fixture played out on the final day of last season, with injury-time heroics from Jamie Maclaren sealing a dramatic 2-1 win for Mohun Bagan SG, though East Bengal went on to ultimately snatch the League crown on superior goal difference.

The match kicks off at 7:30 PM IST on Friday, October 16. Fans can catch the action live on the MG ISL YouTube Channel and SonyLIV.