Mumbai City FC step up preparations for the 2026-27 ISL season under head coach Manolo Marquez, focusing on tactical structures, physical conditioning, squad cohesion and playing principles ahead of the October 10 campaign opener.
Mumbai City FC have intensified their preparations for the upcoming 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season as the Islanders begin a new chapter under Spanish head coach Manolo Marquez. With the new campaign scheduled to begin on October 10, the club is using the pre-season period to establish its tactical approach, improve physical conditioning and build greater understanding among the players.
Marquez and his coaching staff are focusing on several key areas during the ongoing pre-season programme. Tactical structures, physical fitness and relationships between players are among the main priorities as the new coaching team works to develop the playing principles it expects the squad to follow during the campaign.
For Marquez, the pre-season represents an important period for establishing a strong foundation before competitive action begins. The Spanish coach said the players are getting an opportunity to understand his expectations while also working on different aspects of their game.
“Pre-season is a very important period because it gives us the opportunity to work on many aspects of our game and, most importantly, for the players to understand what we want from them,” Marquez said.
He added that the squad is working on physical condition, tactical ideas and relationships between the players. According to Marquez, the attitude and commitment shown by the squad so far have been positive, with the coaching staff now looking to continue developing the team ahead of the new ISL season.
The arrival of a new coaching staff has also created a fresh challenge for Mumbai City FC’s players. Midfielder Brandon Fernandes said the squad has responded positively to Marquez’s arrival and is enjoying the process of adapting to his methods.
“It is a new beginning for us, and we are enjoying the process of working with Coach Manolo. He has a lot of experience in Indian football, and we are learning his ideas and understanding what he expects from us,” Brandon said.
The midfielder also highlighted the ambition within the squad ahead of the new campaign. While Mumbai City FC are targeting a strong challenge at the top end of the competition, Brandon said the immediate priority remains daily improvement and ensuring that the team is fully prepared when the season begins.
“There is a lot of ambition within the group, and we want to compete at the top and fight for trophies. But right now, the focus is on working hard every day, improving as a team and making sure we are ready for the start of the season,” he added.
Mumbai City FC will continue their pre-season preparations in the coming weeks as Marquez works to develop greater cohesion and establish his tactical ideas within the squad. The preparation period will be important for the Islanders as they seek to enter the new ISL campaign with a clear structure and strong understanding among the players.
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Mumbai City FC have previously enjoyed significant success in the Indian Super League. The club won the ISL League and ISL Cup double during the 2020-21 season. They later secured the ISL League Shield in 2022-23 before winning the ISL Cup again in 2023-24.
As the October 10 start approaches, the focus at Mumbai City FC remains on building the squad under Marquez and translating their pre-season work into competitive performances during the 2026-27 ISL campaign.
