Mumbai City FC head coach Manolo Marquez is hoping his side can finally register their first victory of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season when they host Sporting Club Delhi at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday, November 1.

The Islanders have endured a difficult opening three matches, collecting just two points from a possible nine. They began their campaign with a 1-2 defeat against Churchill Brothers before playing out consecutive draws against Punjab FC and Kerala Blasters.

Despite the disappointing return, Marquez believes his team is improving with every outing and is confident that playing in front of their home supporters could provide the much-needed lift. The Spaniard also acknowledged the challenges surrounding the fixture schedule, particularly the uneven distribution of home and away matches due to stadium availability.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Marquez expressed his preference for playing at home but admitted that the scheduling situation has been challenging for several clubs.

“Obviously, we would prefer to play at home rather than away, although I understand how difficult it is to organise the fixtures given the availability of stadiums. Some teams get to play several consecutive home games, while others have to wait until the second leg to play at home. Every team is in a different situation,” he said.

However, the Mumbai City coach insisted that he has seen encouraging signs despite the results not going his team’s way.

“We have collected just two points from nine, but I genuinely feel the team is improving with every game. I still believe that had we scored the opening goal against Churchill Brothers, we could have won that match. Now, we have to play at home, show character and demonstrate that we have the desire and ability to secure our first win of the season,” Marquez added.

Marquez confident ahead of first home game

The Islanders will finally get an opportunity to play in front of their home supporters after three consecutive away fixtures. Marquez revealed that the atmosphere within the dressing room remains positive, with the squad eager to make the most of the occasion despite some injury concerns.

“The atmosphere in the team is very good, and the mood in the camp is positive. We are really looking forward to our first home match. Hopefully, we will see a large number of our fans come out to support us. Despite the unfortunate injuries we have had, everyone else is ready. We are eager to secure our first three points of the season,” he said.

On the tactical challenge posed by Sporting Club Delhi, Marquez highlighted the importance of collective defensive responsibility, particularly against their attacking players.

“We understand how they want to play and have prepared accordingly. Defending is a collective responsibility that starts with the striker and goes all the way to the goalkeeper. We need to stay compact and work together as a team. They are a good side with quality attacking players, but we have trained well this week,” he explained.

Marquez reiterates need for a striker

The Mumbai City manager also stood by his earlier assessment that signing an additional striker could significantly improve the team’s chances of finishing in the top six.

“I said after Sunday’s game that if we sign a striker, Mumbai City will be in the top six, and I stand by that statement. We have a good team with disciplined players, and we showed great organisation in our last match. However, sometimes you need something extra to win games,” Marquez continued.

Will he stay at Mumbai?

Amid the recent speculation about his future, the Spaniard didn’t concede a word, keeping the possibilities of a parting away alive.

“I can say nothing about that (his future). Tomorrow, we have a game at 5 PM at home against SC Delhi, and our only focus is to go out there and try to win. That’s all I can say at this moment,” he concluded.