MUMBAI FC AND CHURCHILL BROTHERS played out a goalless draw on Saturday at Cooperage Stadium which was a crucial match for the former team.
It was a battle of relegation for both. Though both teams shared a point, it was contrasting emotions for both the sides at the end of the match. It was seen through their respective coaches at the post match press conference.
Churchill coach, Derrick Pereira was a happy man with the one point.
"Very happy with the point, it was sort of a way decider. It was important for both the teams to get a good result and for us it's a very good point. Away match, playing against two teams fighting to avoid relegation and having points in our favour is good for us. Of course we need to do well in the remaining matches but happy with this point."
Talking further about the game, Derrick said,
"After the long break, you could see some players were rusty and not upto their mark. One of my midfielders after he came back from his national duty wasn't upto the mark. Towards the end of first half, we couldn't keep up the form but in the second half we failed to convert few chances we got to score. Kromah and Wolfe could have combined and created few more but overall I think it is a good one point won and going ahead we'll get back to our winning ways (smiles)."
To the question that Churchill are almost saved from relegation with three matches to so what would the approach be now, he replied,
"Not really, if you see mathematically we still need to a match, get those three points and Mumbai have to win all their remaining matches. So that way we still need to get those three points."
He concluded by talking about next match against Aizawl,
"It will be tough but we are playing at home so need to take advantage and make good use of it."
Meanwhile, Oscar Bruzon, Mumbai FC coach was disappointed with the performance of the team in the second half.
"First half, I believe was good but second half yes we were poor, opposite of how we played in the first."
When asked if he still thinks Mumbai can avoid relegation, he said,
"Yes, till the end, till everything is decided we are going to be fighting to stay up. Till the last drop of our sweat, we'll be fighting. And there's also Federation Cup where the top 8 teams of I-League get a chance to play so we are not going to let it go. We are working well, it's sad we are not getting goals but we are at least not conceding but I cannot be fully happy I know we are having some problems. In terms of creation and towards the end of the match."
He further added,
"I knew it is a difficult task ahead that I have but one more time I want to repeat that we are going to fight till the end first saving relegation and second playing in the Fed Cup."
When asked, what's the reason that Mumbai lacks those goals,
"Well, too many things/reasons. Firstly our wing plays are mostly created by our full backs so we have to manage that well by placing one leftie on the right and vice versa. If we do it otherwise, we won't be able to charge up to the box in numbers. We have positional players, I was trying to find a combination between control and speed. Again I shall repeat, first half was good but second half we just couldn't hold the opposition down, Kromah and Wolfe were charging up and creating those runs. So we need to find our way and we will work hard."