Eyes on ISL title, Mumbai City star Adam le Fondre relishing the pressure
English striker Adam le Fondre believes Mumbai City FC can go all the way in ISL 2020-21.
Having hit the ground running in the Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai City FC striker Adam le Fondre is looking to create his own legacy in Indian football and the Englishman isn’t prepared to settle for anything less than the ISL title.
After losing their opening match to NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC have been unbeaten in their last six outings and currently sit at the top of the ISL points table with 16 points from seven games.
Central to the Islanders’ unbeaten streak has been Adam le Fondre’s form. On loan from A-League side Sydney FC, le Fondre has already scored five goals this season and is Mumbai’s top scorer so far. Such has been his impact that he has already established himself as coach Sergio Lobera’s go-to man, even ahead of the prolific Bartholomew Ogbeche.
But looking beyond his personal performances, the former Reading striker is looking ahead to help his team go the distance.
“I’ve got total belief, as long as everyone else has it as well, that we can go all the way. We’ve got a great group here and a real good chance,” le Fondre told the Hindustan Times.
“Having looked at the first few games and using that as a yardstick, it surely puts us up there as one of the top squads. Now it’s up to us to perform week in and week out,” he added.
With City Football Group (CFG) – the owners of Premier League giants Manchester City – acquiring majority stakes in Mumbai City ahead of ISL 2020-21, the Islanders have built a solid team and look one of the favourites on paper to clinch the trophy.
“If you see where most of the CFG clubs are, they’ve all tended in one direction—up towards the silverware. That attracted me here. The chance to play for silverware is something I thrive on,” the 34-year-old revealed.
Hunting for silverware with the favourites tag comes with its own share of pressure, but Adam le Fondre is relishing the challenge.
“That motivates me. It’s a challenge, and that’s what I play the game for. I don’t play the game to finish mid-table or at the bottom. There’s no success in that. I wanted to come here and see if I can help the club win. That’s my aim.
“I have tasted success in Australia and England, and I’m hoping I can bring my winning mentality across and we can rub off each other and win some silverware this season,” he announced.
The 34-year-old Adam le Fondre – a Championship winner with Reading and an A-League champion with Sydney FC - also revealed he has been impressed by what he has seen of the ISL so far.
“It’s an exciting league. The technical level is good; there are maybe a few patches in the experience of game management and the tactical side of things. But there’s a lot of scope. There are a lot of good players here who just need a bit of polishing,” he said.