We are motivated to continue our good work from last season, asserts Des Buckingham

This will be Mumbai City FC's second season in ACL

Mumbai City kick starts their 2023/24 AFC Champions League by hosting Iranian side FC Nassaji Mazandaran at the Balewadi Stadium, Pune on Tuesday, September 19. The Islanders will hope to start the campaign in strong fashion with a big win to set up their remaining group games nicely.

A day before the all important AFC Champions League tie, Mumbai City FC head coach Des Buckingham and goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa spoke at the pre-match press conference.

Des Buckingham’s thoughts on start of ACL and expectations

Head coach Des Buckingham feels that his side is ready for this clash, as he said: “It’s our first game of the campaign and one we’re very much looking forward to. We’ve had an eight weeks worth of preseason to get ready for not just this game but the long and hard season ahead of us to play in the Indian Super League and the Champions League. We’re looking forward to this, the players want to play these games so we look forward to it.

When asked about his expectations from the AFC Champions League group stages, the gaffer replied: “When we went last out, the only previous ISL team to have played here was FC Goa to get three draws. We know how difficult getting any points from this competition could be. So there was a concern about us going there and we couldn’t replicate what Goa had done. So from going to become the first Indian team to win a game at the AFC Champions League and to do that twice and finish second in the group. We were disappointed not to qualify for the next rounds. So to change that narrative afterwards shows how far Indian football can go at this stage.

“This tournament is very different in different circumstances. Last season, we played at Riyadh due to COVID-19 and this time we’re playing home and away. I want to replicate the performances we had at the Champions League last year which puts us in a strong position to get those results. It’s just a continuation of the work we’ve done in the last two years. This is my third year in football, so if we can combine our football from the Champions League and ISL last year – we can put ourselves in the strongest position we can. But this is the top level of Asian football, so we must be at the top of our game to get to the knockout rounds,” he added.

Will Mumbai City crumble under the pressure?

Buckingham doesn’t feel like his side is under extra pressure to perform better this time after their heroics from last season. He explained: “There is an excitement and challenge for us to play here. The ambition of the club and the City Football Group is big and where they want to position themselves. We’re playing in a way that allows players to perform consistently. What happened last season doesn’t matter.

"It’s now about this season, as succession planning our players and teams and for us and hopefully, we don’t go from highest to lowest his season. There is no additional pressure for us, but this will be a great challenge for us. We are motivated to continue our good work from last season and get more success.”

Buckingham tips his side to learn from last season’s experiences

The Islanders’ manager also feels that his team his team will benefit from their experience of playing in the ACL last season, saying: “It’s the same as anything in life, not just in football. When you have experiences of previous things, good or bad, they always position you to get better and learn from your mistakes.

"We were fortunate last season that we were happy with what we did and got a good experience from the ISL. It’s very different this time around, but that doesn’t mean those experiences won’t be useful this time around. Last season, the players went into the unknown and didn’t know how to compete at that level and now they know that level. There is a general standard of this competition which we’ve had an exposure of and that should help us.”

What Mumbai City expects from FC Nassaji?

Finally, the gaffer opened up about his thoughts on FC Nassaji’s style and the threat they’ll bring, saying: “We haven’t been able to get to any of their games in person, but we’ve seen their games. They’ve had a new coach, a lot of new players and their season has already started with 4-5 games in their league. We don’t know if they’ll play the same way or the same team tomorrow.

“We’ll prepare our team for what we know and that is something we can control. Our focus is on how we want to play. We’re also preparing the players for what we think they may do, there are no guarantees to do that but we need to prepare them. We are preparing for what we think is coming and to ensure we don’t take the focus from what we want,” he finished with.