Des Buckingham: Nothing has changed since last time we played FC Goa

Mumbai City defender Mehtab Singh praised the head coach for his improvement in play.

Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham has asserted on the importance of finishing off the ISL 2022-23 season on a strong note as the Islanders prepare to play FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. The team played out a 1-1 draw against Hyderabad FC last week, which brought an end to their 11-game-long unbeaten run in the league.

With the campaign nearly rounding off, Mumbai will have an eye out on ensuring that they finish off the season unbeaten – irrespective of Buckingham’s constant denial of the same.

Here are the excerpts from the Englishman’s pre-match press conference.

Sustaining the sublime form

Throughout the season, Des Buckingham has insisted on the importance of not looking far too ahead and losing the plot of what rests right in front of the side. On Friday, with 13 victories, four draws and no losses to their name since October, Buckingham continued to stress on more of the same.  

“We only have three games left. They are all going to be as important as each other. It's not going to be about trying to pick up a result in this game. We want to finish the season as strongly as we possibly can. But to do that, we have to make sure that we prepare as well as we can and we have done that this week,” Buckingham said.

He added, “We have shown through the whole season, if we keep looking at the next game and prepare as well as we can, the performances are hopefully as good as we can play and then we trust them to turn into results.”

On FC Goa and what Mumbai can expect from them?

Goa have a playing style pretty similar to that of Mumbai. However, the Gaurs have been unable to hold on to a consistent run of form over the course of the previous 17 games. They currently sit on the fifth spot with 27 points to their name, with the seventh-placed Odisha FC breathing down their neck by trailing them by two points at present.

“Nothing has really changed since the last time we played them. They were looking for results to try and make sure they finish in the playoffs, as well as us. FC Goa have got a traditional, real, strong, and central football identity in the way they want to play,” Des Buckingham remarked, reflecting on the last faceoff between the two sides when Mumbai thrashed Goa 4-1 at home in December.

Mehtab Singh on the season so far

Mehtab Singh has had a monumental campaign so far, having featured in all of Mumbai’s 17 games. He has grown into the central defensive role and settled in well at the heart of the backline. The 24-year-old explained that he had a topsy-turvy season as he battled injury concerns last year. Mehtab credited the coach for helping him add new elements to his playing style that has enabled him to up his game in this campaign.

“Last season was up and down for me, due to injury and inconsistent performances. But this season, I put in extra work during the off season which I didn’t do last time. I have recovered well, and the head coach has also helped me on the things that I had to improve on in defence and attack. So, there are many things by the head coach that have helped me grow,” Mehtab said.