ISL 2021-22: Mumbai City FC despite starting this Indian Super League season on a strong have lost their way. The Islanders are currently in a four match winless streak as they could only manage a goalless draw against bottom-placed SC East Bengal. It was a very feisty battle as both teams cancelled each other out. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only on InsideSport.IN
Hardwork and commitment till the end but not the result we wanted.#SCEBMCFC #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/rcNkmriUfl
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) January 7, 2022
However, Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham was furious at the post-match press conference. The Islanders gave everything that they had but still failed to break the SC East Bengal defence. Although the Englishman credited the Red and Golds he also highlighted how some of the most crucial decisions in the game went against Mumbai City FC.
When questioned on their four game winless streak, Buckingham replied, “I’m more interested in this game this evening and for me, well done to SC East Bengal, but also we’ve had three clearcut penalties denied and not given. And for me, that’s the reason we haven’t come away with the results tonight.
“We’re happy with the clean sheet. I don’t think they’ve had a chance at our goal, but we, we trust the process we follow, but we need to also make sure that when we create chances, if we’re upheld the way we have been one with the handball, the second on Cassio (Gabriel) and the third one for me, Mourtada Fall pulled down in the middle of the goal. You trust that the officials see and give at least one, if not all three,” he asserted with visible anger and frustration.
Despite not scoring goals and not securing all three points, Buckingham felt Mumbai City FC were on point. He pointed out how the Islanders created a few big chances and could have had the upper hand in the game had one of those three calls would have been given as spotkick. Therefore when questioned whether the team lacked a plan B, Buckingham said, “No, I don’t think so. Like I said, we’ve created two or three chances that have got us into good goal scoring areas. Unfortunately, we’ve been opened up and upheld in the box and that we expect the decision to be made, which is the right one. I’ve watched all three and those make a massive change in the game, especially in the first half handball.”
Despite the draw, Mumbai City FC regained their position at the top of the ISL points table. The last few matches have been a stretch of poor form for the Islanders. They started sensationally with a 3-0 thumping against FC Goa. However, things went downhill soon enough. Buckingham feels that his team should continue creating chances as the goals will surely come and so are the wins.
“We need to keep creating chances the way we are. I think defensively, we were very sound tonight and that’s obviously been an area of concern, the last three games, which is nice to see we’ve come away with a clean sheet.
“We just need to keep working on creating the chances, whether or not we manage to find the net, or if we take chances of the set plays, just make sure that we take those opportunities,” Buckingham signed off.
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