Mumbai FC coach says that nothing has changed even after beating Mohun Bagan and East Bengal
Mumbai FC coach says that nothing has changed even after beating Mohun Bagan and East Bengal
MUMBAI: Mumbai FC are I-League neophytes, but definitely no pushovers. The lads from Mumbai started their campaign with back-to-back wins against India’s biggest clubs - Mohun Bagan and East Bengal - leaving them top of the table. Some may call it a lucky streak and others a great achievement. However, the Mumbai team are definitely not going ga ga over this feat.
“Yes, it is a good start, in fact a great start, but we are still grounded. Nothing really has changed. Our expectations are still the same, these wins just helps us achieve them,” said David Booth, Coach Mumbai FC.
Their first game in top division of Indian football saw them beat Mohun Bagan 2-1, courtesy goals from Abel Hammond and Kalia Kulothungan. Lalawmpuia salvaged some pride for Mohun Bagan, but Mumbai FC held on to the lead long enough to register their first I-League win on debut. If this was not shocking enough, they summed up their trip to Kolkata by beating East Bengal by a solitary goal. This time it was Felix Aboagye who found the target. “The first game at the Barasat stadium had one of the worst pitches I have ever seen. Atrocious conditions for play. We got two goals early on and from there never looked back.”
“We had a much better pitch for the second game at the Salt Lake Stadium. And we did quite well,” adds David.
This magnificent start has come as a surprise to most as Booth’s team did not have a great Durand Cup. But the Englishman reinstates that they never went into the Durand looking to win it, but rather use it as warm up before the I-League. “We never went into the Durand to win it. We went in so we could give some of our new players some playing time and also have the chance to assess other teams.”
They face local rivals Mahindra United next on October 11 and the coach is confident that they will be ready.
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