Mumbai FC new Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon was calm and positive that his players would give their best against Churchill Brothers, Goa in a crucial 15thAround I-League match to be played at theACooperage football ground,Aon SaturdayAevening. Bruzon took charge of Mumbai FC two weeks ago after the club management parted ways with head coach Santosh Kashyap last month.
Both the Mumbai club and the Goans are the two teams fighting to survive relegation since the new clubs Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab FC along with DSK Shivajians, Pune, who made their debut last season, are assured by the AIFF of continuing in the top-tier competition for a three-year period. The Pune club has one more season remaining.
Mumbai FC with just 10 points are placed at the bottom of the 10-team standings, while Churchill with 16 points are placed much higher in sixth position.
Despite being faced with the Herculean task of trying to lift the team from the remaining four games, Bruzon seemed relaxed and from his demeanor and the manner in which he spoke to media persons at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the game, it clearly showed that he has things under control.
a?We are completely focused forAtomorrow’sAgame against Churchill Brothers. We will be approaching this game from all different angles and from my side all angles are positive. Itas going to be a tough game, but we will play to our strengths and focus on the job. The team is ready for the challenge and Iam confident we will go all out and win the match,a? said the Spaniard.
a?I have experience of having coached in Goa and have always found that Churchill are a strong team. They have dominated Goan football and are former (I-League) champions. Now they have a great coach (Derrick) currently and are very dangerous on the counter attacks. We have to stop them by trying to keep ball possession and that will be are main target,a? Bruzon further stated.
Mumbai FC goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani too was positive about the teamas survival. a?We have gone through a bad phase, but I donat want to talk about the past, but concentrate on the future. Pressure is always there but it’s up to us to show how good we and how we can handle the pressure. In football anything can happen and like coach said we are ready to go out and win,a? Kattimani stated.
a?Playing on the home soil is an advantage for us. Whenever we have played at home has given us some good results. The fans have always supported us and we look to them for motivation for the game,a? the goalkeeper mentioned.
Churchill coach Derrick Pereira said it was a crucial game for his team and also the Mumbai team. a?It’s a very important for both Mumbai FC and for us and its important that we get a good result,a? Pereira said.
Pereira pointed out that his team has prepared well and look forward to the game. a?We have been working hard during the break, but did get many good practice matches to play. But the players have been training together and except for Rowlison Rodrigues who got injured in the practice game against Dempo last week has not traveled to Mumbai,a? Pereira mentioned before heading for a light training session.
