Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
If you were looking for a high-octane thriller in Kochi last night, you might have been disappointed by the scoreline. But if you were looking for a tactical masterclass, you saw everything you needed. Today, Monday, February 23, 2026, Mumbai City FC sits comfortably at the top end of the table, having just grinded out a clinical 1-0 away win against a desperate Kerala Blasters.
This isn’t just “another win.” This is the sound of a team that knows exactly who it is, even after the massive shock of the City Football Group (CFG) pulling out their 65% stake just months ago. Everyone thought Mumbai would collapse without the Manchester City connection. Instead, they’ve turned into a localized machine that is currently outthinking every other franchise in the league.
The ‘Petr Kratky’ Reset: From Chaos to Control
When Petr Kratky stayed on after the CFG exit, he didn’t just inherit a squad; he inherited a crisis. He lost key foreigners like Tiri and Yoell van Nieff to the administrative delay that pushed this season to a February start. But look at what he’s built in these first two weeks.
Last night’s win in Kochi was a “professional” job. Mumbai didn’t chase the game; they strangled it. With Lallianzuala Chhangte leading the line and Brandon Fernandes pulling the strings in the middle, the “Islanders” played with a level of maturity that we haven’t seen from the likes of Mohun Bagan or East Bengal yet. They are currently the only team in the ISL that seems to understand that in a 13-match sprint season, a 1-0 win is worth more than a 4-3 goal-fest.
The 13-Round Sprint: No Room for ‘Next Time’
The 2026 season is brutal. Because of the delays caused by the AIFF-Ministry standoff, we have a single-leg round-robin. There are no playoffs this year. The team that finishes at the top on May 17 is the champion. Period.
This changes the psychological DNA of the game. Usually, teams like Mumbai can afford a mid-season slump and then recover in the playoffs. Not this time. By beating Chennaiyin and then Kerala back-to-back, Mumbai has already secured 6 points from a possible 39. In a league where the gap between 1st and 6th is usually paper-thin, this early 100% record is a massive psychological lead.
The Return of the ‘Industrials’: Diaz and Kauko
The secret sauce for Mumbai this year is the “re-recruitment.” Bringing back Jorge Pereyra Diaz was a stroke of genius. He’s the “Industrial Forward”—a guy who doesn’t just score but disrupts the opposition’s build-up from the front. Pair that with Joni Kauko in the midfield (who basically won the Shield for Mohun Bagan two years ago), and you have a spine that is too physically imposing for most ISL defenses.
In the 72nd minute last night, when Kerala was pushing for an equalizer, it was Kauko’s positioning that blocked the passing lanes to Adrian Luna. It wasn’t flashy, it won’t make the highlight reels, but it’s why Mumbai is sitting where they are. They are playing “adult” football while everyone else is still trying to find their rhythm.
The Kochi Drama: Beyond the Pitch
We have to talk about the backdrop of the Mumbai-Kerala game. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi was almost empty of “vibes” before the whistle even blew. The standoff between the Kerala Blasters and the GCDA over stadium rent and “liabilities” from a Bharatanatyam event (of all things) nearly saw the game cancelled.
Mumbai took advantage of that tension. They knew the Blasters were distracted. They played on that nervousness, keeping the ball, slowing down the tempo, and waiting for the one mistake. When it came, they were clinical. That is the hallmark of a champion—using the opposition’s administrative chaos as a tactical weapon.
The Bottom Line
As of February 23, 2026, Mumbai City FC has proven that “The Blueprint” left behind by CFG is still very much alive. They are organized, they are disciplined, and most importantly, they are efficient.
In a league that’s currently a “sprint” rather than a marathon, Mumbai has already found their top gear. If they win their next game against Northeast United on March 1st, they might just run away with the title before the rest of the league even realizes the race has started.
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