Shillong are bottom-placed at ninth on 15 points, below DSK Shivajians, who are also on 15 points but have a better goal difference of five. Mumbai are seventh on the table with 16 points.
Mumbai FC coach Khalid Jamil never wears the look of seriousness on his face during a football game. And, even on the eve of perhaps his most important match as manager, Jamil was at his usual smiling self.
Jamil is aware that a loss to DSK Shivajians in their I-League clash at the Cooperage Stadium here on Sunday could see his team being relegated from India's premier domestic football league. However, that is only if Shillong Lajong pull off a surprise victory at home over East Bengal.
Shillong are bottom-placed at ninth on 15 points, below DSK Shivajians, who are also on 15 points but have a better goal difference of five. Mumbai are seventh on the table with 16 points.
However, DSK Shivajians are immune from relegation for three years since they are a new entrant in the league. Hence, if they finish last, the team that finishes second-last will get relegated. And that means if Mumbai lose and Shillong win, Mumbai will be relegated. If Mumbai draw, they will be safe, Aizawl being relegated.
But coach Jamil isn't one to ponder upon the permutations and combinations.
"We have only one thing in mind, that is to win. That's all that will matter. Then we don't have to depend on East Bengal doing us a favour by beating Shillong. So, we will go all-out," Jamil said on Saturday, adding that all his players were fit for the clash.
Managing Shivajians will be the very experienced Derrick Pereira. Jamil and Pereira go a long way back, when the latter was coach of Mahindra United in 2005 and Jamil was the star player of the side. In fact, they won the Federation Cup that season, though an injured Jamil didn't play a big part in that campaign due to a knee injury.
Thus, Jamil knows Pereira too well, saying that he can't take any Pereira-coached side lightly. "I know the work he does with each player in his squad. He's a wonderful coach and can turn any game around at any time," Jamil said.
Though they lost their previous game to Aizawl by a solitary goal, Shivajians have played a high-scoring 3-3 draw against last year's champions Mohun Bagan, 1-1 draw against current champions Bengaluru FC and another 1-1 draw against Salgoacar in their three games before the Aizawl clash. Jamil knows they can't take them lightly.
"Shivajians are a very strong side, we cannot afford to take them for granted," said Jamil. "They have a good mix of experience and youth. I'm expecting a very tough clash."
Pereira said the target for his team will be to remain in the top-8 of the league and qualify for the Federation Cup.
Playing Today (7.05 pm): Shillong Lajong vs East Bengal (Live on Ten 1), Mumbai FC vs DSK Shivajians (Live on Ten 2)
Bengaluru FC and another 1-1 draw against Salgoacar in their three games before the Aizawl clash. Jamil knows they can't take them lightly.
"Shivajians are a very strong side, we cannot afford to take them for granted," said Jamil. "They have a good mix of experience and youth. I'm expecting a very tough clash."
Pereira said the target for his team will be to remain in the top-8 of the league and qualify for the Federation Cup.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Khalid")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}