Ahead of the clash against Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC’s head-coach Sergio Lobera addressed the media in a pre-match press conference.
Speaking upon the challenge against Bengaluru FC, Lobera said,
“It will be a different game for us compared to some last matches. Bengaluru is a very competitive team, very compact team having very good in defence and attack. It will be difficult for us to find spaces in their half and score goals so we need to manage the situation better.“
ATK Mohun Bagan will be the next opponents of Mumbai City FC who are currently leading the table. Lobera expressed about the same saying,
“We need to enjoy playing football and we need to put our focus in every game. Our focus now is on the game against Bengaluru and I think this is the most important thing. Step-by-step, game-by-game we need to improve. At the end of the season, the most important thing is the table but not now.“
“Of course, we want to win. It is special for us, our fans, for all the people who follow the team. But, now the most important thing is to put our focus on the game. We are enjoying the way we are playing football so have very good results until now.“
An intense battle has been seen in the point’s table between the Kolkata and Mumbai based team. Being asked if ATK Mohun Bagan is the source of motivation for them, Lobera said,
“I think our motivation depends on ourselves, not on a third person or any other team. We have a lot of motivation every game and this does not depend on the ATK Mohun Bagan result or the result of other games of other teams. We need to work on thinking of ourselves. We need to work every time trying to improve our levels. The start of the season was very good for us. But, as you know, in this competition, everything is possible to change in a short period.”
“Sometimes, we have three games in seven days and everything is possible to change. Now, ATK Mohun Bagan is doing a very good job. But, there are very good teams in the competition and everything is possible to change in a short time. We need to continue working in the same way and depending on ourselves,” he added.
Being the former manager of FC Goa, Lobera doesn’t hold a very good record against Bengaluru FC. But, this will be the first team he will be leading the team from the sideline against Bengaluru FC. Quoting about the record, Lobera said,
“The past is the past and the past does not affect the future. I think these are different scenarios, different contexts, different players, different teams. We are preparing for tomorrow’s game. Bengaluru has always been a team which is a very difficult team to play against. But, the most important thing for me is my team and we need to work very well and give our 100%.“
The 42-year-old Spanish coach seems still hungry for goals and big margin win to clinch the silverware. Speaking upon the improvements needed in the team, Lobera told,
“We need to analyse everything we do. For example, in the last game, we started very well and we scored two goals but after that gave opportunities to Kerala with our mistakes. We had very good chances to finish the game. Because 3-0 is a very difficult result for the opponent team. We need to improve, to score the goals of what chances we created.”
“But, I’m very happy with my team. I am very happy with my squad. We are improving, we are winning and we need to continue working in the same way,” he added.
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