Vikram Partap Singh Prepares for Biggest Club Match of His Career

Vikram Partap Singh, a rising star in Indian football, is gearing up for the biggest match of his club career: the Indian Super League (ISL) final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. With 12 goal contributions (8 goals, 4 assists) this season, Singh has emerged as a key player for Mumbai City FC.

Singh's preparation for the final has been meticulous. After missing the last league game due to suspension, he was determined to prove his worth in the semi-final against FC Goa. His goal and assist over two legs against Goa were crucial in Mumbai City's victory.

"I told myself that the semi-final is where I need to show that I can be useful to the team," Singh said. "The only thought for us was to try and score one goal. When Chhangte scored, it gave us belief and realization that there is time for more."

Singh believes that the key to success in the final will be maintaining belief and avoiding complacency. "No player now thinks the game will end around the 90-minute mark," he said. "Sometimes seven minutes are enough to score two or three goals."

The desire to end the season on a high note is also driving Singh and his teammates. "Losing the league shield in Kolkata to Mohun Bagan meant we had to win the semi-final as we didn't want to finish with nothing after a good season," he said.

Singh has learned valuable lessons from Mumbai City's previous encounters with Mohun Bagan. "If there is one thing we learnt from that game, it was: never start a game thinking a draw will be enough," he said.

Despite Mumbai City's Champions League experience this season, Singh believes that the ISL final is the biggest club game of his career. "We can't say that about any game we play in India. So, this is a must-win," he said.

Singh credits his coach, Petr Kratky, for giving him more freedom and playing him on both sides of the pitch. "I feel I am more mature now but the confidence he had in me helped," he said.

Singh is also eager to make his mark on the international stage. After making his debut for India against Afghanistan last March, he believes it's time to work hard and improve. "I can't call myself a young player anymore. 22 'bahut hota hai'. It felt like I was late for my India debut," he said.

Singh is confident that he can continue to perform at a high level. "At 22, you can't say all that. I can play all year," he said.

Tags: #IndianSuperLeague, #MumbaiCityFC, #MohunBaganSuperGiant, #VikramPartapSingh, #IndianFootball