Des Buckingham: Focus is on defending set-pieces better

The tactician also spoke on the competition inside the squad.

Mumbai City are all set to take on Bengaluru FC in the ISL 2022-23 fixture on Thursday. Head coach Des Buckingham asserted that his team has come a long way since losing the Durand Cup final against Bengaluru FC in September this year.

Buckingham’s side are coming into this match high on confidence after defeating Chennaiyin FC 6-2 in their own (Chennaiyin's) backyard last weekend. The tactician alongside defender Rahul Bheke addressed multiple probing issues in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

Here are the excerpts from his interaction.

On Bengaluru FC and the Durand Cup experience

Bengaluru dashed Buckingham’s hopes of lifting his first silverware in India by inflicting a 2-1 loss upon the Islanders in the final of the Durand Cup a couple of months ago. However, both the teams have undergone a contrasting run of form ever since then. Mumbai sit at the second spot on the table with 12 points from their six matches. On the other hand, Bengaluru haven’t won a game for over a month now.

“The final was nearly two months ago now and a lot has changed. I don’t want to speak too much on them (Bengaluru). Like I said, we always focus on us. All I can say is we used the Durand Cup to firstly get as much success as we can and we got to the finals in our first attempt in that competition. It was unfortunate not to come away from the final with that trophy. But what it did is we used it as an opportunity to prepare ourselves for the ISL season,” Buckingham spoke on the topic.

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He added, “The big focus has been that we continue on from where we left off in the AFC Champions League and then making sure that when we started round one, we started well. Then it was about getting better every round. The way that we have played certainly in the last six games, I feel that we have done that. We have shown how we want to play more often and for longer periods within games. So yes, we are a different team than we were when we played them in the final. But again, so are they.”

“And that just comes about time that we have been able to spend together. We have obviously been able to try a few different things. We have got different ways that we can play this year with different personnel. All those ingredients are very important to making sure that we come away with more results for this game coming up and going forward,” Buckingham further elaborated on the issue.

Multiple players stepping up

Mumbai’s incredible squad depth was on display against Chennaiyin when six different players got on the score-sheet for them. They managed to net six times away from home after being 2-0 down at one point in the first-half.

Further, their three substitutes, namely Vinit Rai, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy and Alberto Noguera scored once each after coming off from the bench. Des Buckingham was pleased at that sight and asserted that it was instrumental for the entire squad to step up to the challenges that the team might encounter over the course of this long season.

“Last year when we lost a couple of key players, we weren’t able to sustain the momentum that we had. This year we have gone out and recruited players into those roles. We brought Vinit in early in January. And of course, (Lallianzuala) Chhangte. But otherwise we are very much an unchanged squad. We have obviously had some changes in the foreigner department. But that’s only been four players. Otherwise we are still the same squad,” Buckingham opened up on the measures that the club took to address the concerns from the previous season.

(Competition inside the squad)

He added, “The good thing is now we have got them more fit and now we have got competition across each of the positions that we have in our team - mostly two in every position. When we are playing, we play well. Of course, it’s up for the players to fight for their positions and to fight for their starting spots in particular.”

“But what has been pleasing is those who haven’t started games, who haven’t had as much game-time as they wanted, when they have come on, they have had a good impact. That’s going to be so important not just in the games that have gone but in the games that we have coming up, for that to continue,” the 37-year-old additionally mentioned.

“Whether they start or whether they come on to finish the game. Because if we want to be successful this year, we have already seen the impact that they can have in the games. I have spoken before that we are not a team of individuals. We have to be a team. And that involves everyone who is there in our squad,” Buckingham outlined the attitude that he expects from the entire group.

Concerns whilst defending set-pieces

Set-pieces are one thing Mumbai City have suffered from this year. The head coach upfront accepted that drawback and insisted that the side will increasingly focus to get better on that front to enhance the solidity of their backline.

“We must focus on it. It’s an area I think out of the eight goals that we have conceded, six have been set-plays; a mix of corners, throw-ins and free-kicks. So it is an area of concern. If we look at last year, that wasn’t the case. I know that teams will be certainly looking at that to try and take advantage of that. So, if we can make sure and spend the time (on improving in this area) we want to and we get that right, we know we are a difficult side to create chances against. Because, the stats show us that,” the tactician claimed.

“But there will be a lot more time and attention paid to that. Again, it’s a small detail. It is not a massive change in the structure. It’s making sure that the detail is very clear and the players, when the situation arises, we make sure that we do our jobs as well as we can so that we don’t concede those goals. Because, you can’t always come back from whether it is 2-0 or a 1-0, that one goal might be so decisive in the result,” Buckingham reiterated.

Rahul Bheke on facing his former club

Rahul Bheke has led Mumbai City FC multiple times this season. On Thursday, he might captain the Islanders against a club whom he helped lift the ISL trophy back in 2018-19.

Speaking on the emotions of coming up against his former employers, Bheke explained, “I am looking forward to this game because last year also I played against them but it was a neutral venue for both the teams. This time I am playing in front of the home crowd.”

“Keeping emotions aside, it’s important that I focus on the game because it’s important for us at this stage to get points. It’s a long league. We have another 13 games ahead so our target is to be on the top of the league. So, keeping those emotions aside, it’s important that we focus on the game and get those three points,” he signed off.