PRE-SEMI QUIPS- Guimaraes: We have to play very smart; Molina: Keep the ball and try to score

COMING INTO THE SECOND LEG OF THE SEMI-FINAL TRAILING by a goal, Mumbai will have to get things in place without their marquee Diego Forlan. Both Head Coaches spoke to the media about their preparation about tonight's game.

Guimaraes of Mumbai City FC talked about the approach towards the deciding leg and said,

“We have some things to resolve and firstly it is about intensity and I have been talking to players that these kinds of games have to be played with different intensity, not just physical but also mental and we also have to solve the absence of Diego”

With the advantage of a goal, Molina might be expected to play out for a draw or go more towards protecting that lead. But the Atletico de Kolkatta head coach turned down that suggestion saying,

“We are going to play with the same mentality, the way we played in the first match and we will try to score goals and we will try to win and we will see tomorrow how the match goes once it starts. We always try to play the same way and be good in defence and keep the ball and try to score goals”

The Spaniard continued saying, 

“We are going to play the same way and nothing is going to change and we will play the same way we have since our first game of the league,”

Mumbai will look at the stands for home support tonight and Guimaraes says the feeling of playing at home will give them an edge. Guimaraes, on playing at home said,

“The players are excited to play in front of our fans and I hope we have the stadium filled to capacity tomorrow to push our players and we know that we have to play very smart. The situation is not desperate for us because it is only one goal, so we have to play better than the last game and I still believe that we are alive and we have our chance and we will fight hard to get to the final,”

The first leg at home saw five goals being scored. Three goals is the highest ATK have scored this season and this should give them some confidence coming into the game. Molina insisted they will come out to attack saying,

“We didn’t do anything different against Mumbai and we tried to do what we have been trying to do from day one. Some days you have the blessings to score goals. I think now we are playing better and the players did really well in the last match and it was a great match and as I have told you we will continue playing the same way.”

Commenting on who would be filling in for Forlan in his suspension, Guimaraes said,

"You know you don’t have to motivate the players too much as the players know that tomorrow is a final and that we have to win. Everyone is excited and the one who will play in his spot, he will do his best to help us to get through and for now it is difficult for me to predict if we will suffer in his absence. Some games where he did not play like the game against ATK here, we performed well and now he is waiting that we can go through to the final,” 

On the statistic of having lost just twice this season, Molina commended his defence saying,

“I think to lose only two matches in 15 is incredible but tomorrow’s match is different and what we did in the past is the past. Tomorrow we want to play a good game and I don’t live in the past. I live in the present and we will try to do well in the 90 minutes tomorrow to reach the final in Kochi. What we did in the past is good but we have to work very hard tomorrow during the 90 minutes,” 

THe MCFC Heach Coach talking about how crucial winning free kicks and scoring from them was and continued saying,

“I don’t know if it is their weakness and you have to be very good in these kinds of situations and because of those two goals we are alive and I am very happy about that.”

Molina shared his thoughts on the Forlan-less Mumbai squad,

“I focus on my team and my team is most important for me, like who can play or not play. I know that Forlan is a top-class player and it may be good for us or maybe not. Mumbai have a lot of very good players. I think they have confidence in other players, and with or without Forlan, it does not make a difference and it is never easy against Mumbai and you have to fight in every match and tomorrow we will try to do the same and win. I want only one thing and that is to be in the final and win and become the champion. The only thing on my mind now is to play tomorrow to win and nothing else.”

On the strength of ATK's wing play, Guimaraes commented saying,

"Yes, they play very well on the sides, especially when they counter-attacked us and this is something to which we have to pay much more attention,” 

Guimaraes, on how his side would have to prevent ATK scoring and at the same time score a couple themselves said,

"The balance will be very important and we know that we will attack more than them and like I said, we cannot be suicidal and we will have to go forward and be well positioned in midfield and the back and not make any errors like we did in the last game.”

The Mumbai Head Coach shared his wish to see the fans of Mumbai City FC fill all seats in the stadium tonight saying,

“It is better to have a full stadium than playing in a big stadium where you have ten thousand people, it looks like a desert and the players and I would like to see the stadium packed half an hour before the match. It would be nice to see that”

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