Jorge Costa: What I want is that all the players work hard

The tactician also emphasized that his team must make the most of home advantage in the upcoming games.

Mumbai City FC face Odisha FC in their first home game this season and it is going to be an interesting clash, as Jorge Costa and his men will want to hit the ground running.

Jorge Costa seemed to be in a jovial mood having won four points out of a possible six, in two back-to-back away fixtures. He went on to speak about them saying, “Two very difficult games away. It is not perfect, but it was good. I am happy!”

He went on to add, “We are facing two teams in 72 hours. We play two games in 72 hours. So, I can say that I am very happy with the players, all the players. I am very happy with their performance.”

“If they were six (points) I would be the most happy coach in the world. But, four points is not bad. Tomorrow again, three more points we have to win and this is how we are thinking during the whole season.”

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Jorge Costa then elaborated on the approach he has towards his squad. “From the first only I told that I am a happy coach because I don’t have 11 players, that I have 25 players and I trust all of them. But, at the end, whoever you see playing in the field you cannot tell anything, but that they are giving their best.

“The players, they are ready to play. They are ready to play every three days for the next 2-3 months. Their role changes according to my philosophy, but I think that is what is best for the team.”

When questioned about the defence, Costa stated, “We have a solid team. We have a solid defence. We lost some players and signed some new players. But, this is still Mumbai City FC!”

He then went on to enlist the benefit he sees in having a hard-working squad, “What I want is that all the players work hard and if all the players work hard, it is hard-work for me to choose the first XI. I want this.”

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The tactician further added, “But, in the beginning, personally, as a coach I said I have quality, I have 25 players and again I will say, I trust all of them. l have the quality to play and tomorrow they will all fight for the three points.”

He spoke about the new signings saying, “Like all the players we have signed, me and my staff have been watching these players. I am happy to have these players. All 25 players are my choice. If they are here, it is because they have all have quality.”

He then humbly highlighted his mistakes in the past year and laid out his agenda for the season ahead saying, “It is now easy to speak, but before the first game, I said that last year I made some mistakes. The reality of this league was not the reality that I knew. But, of course, after one year, I try to avoid the same mistakes that I did last season.”

“Last season we finished in the top four, this season we have to focus again to get in the top four.”