We will train harder & then see who are the real contenders for this championship, says Mumbai City coach Guimaraes

MUMBAI CITY lost their opening match 2-0 against Bengaluru FC at the Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday. Both the goals came in the second half, Mumbai City were a team that were known for their strength in the defence but there were some lapses in the opening match.

Applauding the opponents and stating it was a good learning experience, coach Alexandre Guimaraes at the post-match press conference said,

"We always try to win, that’s our goal. Although we had a few upsets and injuries, that is no excuse as Bengaluru definitely played really well. But it’s a good learning experience and we now know what we need to do for our next game."

When asked about the comparisons between previous MCFC and current squad, he said,

"It is difficult to compare as both our teams have had different players. But I know for sure that we need to work hard and correct our mistakes to be more competitive in the coming games. This is just the beginning. We will train harder and then see who are the real contenders for this championship."

Talking about the atmosphere at the Kanteerava, he said,

"The first game is always difficult, especially going up against a team that has played together for a longer time. But the atmosphere was fantastic and cannot be used as an excuse for what the final result is. The first half wasn’t as good as the second, as we then realized what we had to do. After the necessary changes were made, we covered up the empty spaces on the field which the other team previously used against us. Also, scoring goals is the main objective of any game and that is something we need to focus more on."

Mumbai City next take on FC Goa at home on 25th November.

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