Mumbai: After a disappointing loss to Kerala Blasters at home, their second this season, hosts Mumbai City will look to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Bengaluru FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday.
With three wins and two defeats in five matches, the ‘Islanders’ have failed to make much use of their home comfort that was no less than a fortress last season. Mumbai’s record at their own background in the previous campaign was three wins, three draws and just two defeats in eight matches that includes the semi-final encounter against reigning champions ATK, but now lying fifth with 14 points from 10 fixtures another loss is bound to increase the gap at the top which is already six at the moment.
But not the one to give up head coach Alexandre Guimarães said, “we have a situation where we have to stand again and we’ll do it. The team which just lay down, will be finished. We’ll not do that. We’ll fight with all our resources to be in the top four.”
Mumbai were humbled 0-2 when both the sides last met in Bengaluru, which was also their first match in the ISL this term but the Costa Rican tactician reinstated that this game will be a different fixture.
“The first game, we had too many situations that didn’t allow us to make a good game. They deserved that win for sure. But from that game, we have been building,” he added also praising his team for the development they have shown since that first game against the former I-League champions.
Out-gunning Bengaluru FC will however not be an easy task. ‘The Blues’ come into the fixture following a shock 0-2 defeat against laggards Delhi Dynamos. But a win here can propel them back to the top while Mumbai can jump to third if they clinch all three points.
“It happens. It’s a short season. And see when you have quality behind it’s easy to get back,” said Roca talking about the defeat to Dynamos. But while the loss has added more pressure on them Roca conceded that perhaps the pressure of being favourites adds more pressure on his players.
Roca however signed off saying, “Though there is pressure, I can tell you that we have the quality to do well.”