Sergio Lobera: Ahmed Jahouh needs to learn and avoid getting booked

The Spaniard was reasonably happy with the result.

Mumbai City FC convincingly defeated Bengaluru FC 3-1 to collect their sixth victory of the season. Mourtada Fall and Bipin Singh got on the scoresheet for the Islanders in the first-half. Sunil Chhetri converted a spot-kick in the 79th minute to sneak the Blues back into the game. However, Bartholomew Ogbeche netted a header from a corner to hand Mumbai the three points. Head coach Sergio Lobera addressed various facets of the game in his post-match media interaction. 

Here are the excerpts from his press conference. 

Countering Bengaluru FC from set-pieces

Carles Cuadrat’s men are very clinical in terms of bagging goals from set-pieces. However, Lobera’s men scored twice from corners tonight. The team has increasingly become more efficient from dead-ball scenarios. 

Speaking about that, the head coach said, “I am very happy because we portrayed very well that we spoke before the game. When the plan for the players is possible to do well, I am very happy. About set-pieces, we know the potential of Bengaluru. (Jesus) Tato, my assistant coach, worked very well on this; not only to defend, but to score goals in these actions is very good for us and I am very happy with this.”

Jahouh’s red-card record

Ahmed Jahouh was sent off in the 86th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the game. The Moroccan is critical to Mumbai’s style of play and almost the creative fulcrum of the setup. He had already missed the encounter against FC Goa earlier in the season due to a suspension. Now, he will sit out of the all-important clash against ATK Mohun Bagan too. Sergio Lobera was certainly not impressed with the situation. 

“Obviously, he is a very good player but with experience, Jahouh needs to avoid these situations. He needs to learn about this. Because, it’s a big mistake to lose one player for the next game and I think it’s possible to avoid the yellow card,” the tactician quipped. 

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Mandar-Bipin link up on the left flank

Mandar Rao Dessai and Bipin Singh partnered well on the left flank for the second game running. Dessai’s curling cross was met by Singh’s cushioned volley for Mumbai’s second goal of the match. Reflecting on the duo’s partnership on the wing, Sergio Lobera said, “Yes, I think Mandar is playing very well, he was always a good player. But, the most important thing is to work well as a team. It’s impossible to beat Bengaluru with only 2-3 players. We need to work very well on all the fronts and I am very happy with the work of the squad without the ball. It’s not only about Mandar, it’s about all players.”

Should they have killed off the game earlier? 

The Islanders did score the third goal, but it was more in response to Chhetri’s successful spot-kick. The team had several occasions to triple their lead earlier in the game. However, like the previous game, the players missed multiple goal-scoring opportunities. 

The coach admitted this error as he stated, “Yeah, I agree. It’s very important for us to start the games well. I am very happy with the situation, we started the game very well. But after that, we had a lot of chances to score the third goal and you know, when the third goal comes in, the game is over. We need to improve this. We’ve got a lot of chances and for us it is very important but I am very happy with the start of the game.”

Bipin Singh’s consistently improving outings

Bipin Singh had clocked merely 395 minutes across 15 games in ISL 2019-20. This season, he has become a starter in Lobera’s setup and has already scored a goal and made three assists in eight appearances. Moreover, the winger has played 614 minutes already, a huge jump from his previous campaign’s numbers. 

The Spaniard was probed about Singh’s importance in the lineup. “Yes, my job is to increase, to improve the level of the Indian players. I am very happy with the full squad. Now Bipin is playing very well, but as I told you before, the most important thing is the collective job and I think the team is working very well,” the 43-year-old diplomatically responded. 

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Rationale behind key substitutions

Adam le Fondre, Hugo Boumous and Mandar Rao Dessai were substituted in quick succession as the game entered its final 20 minutes. Sergio Lobera was enquired whether those moves could have backfired given Bengaluru managed to pull back a goal shortly afterwards. 

The head coach explained, “We played two games in three days. It’s not easy. We had a very short pre-season and we need to think to keep safe the players and avoid injuries. They are very tired and it’s good to make substitutions because the players coming from the bench – it’s possible to keep or increase the level of players who are playing.” 

He added, “I am very happy with my squad. I am very happy with the attitude of the players coming from the bench. The result is not only about the first XI. It’s about the players who are playing from the bench.”

Has the team peaked too early? 

Mumbai have won seven of their nine games so far. They haven’t faced a defeat since the loss against NorthEast United FC in the opening game of the campaign. Addressing concerns over the team peaking too early in the competition, Sergio Lobera elaborated, “It’s good. I am happy. I don’t want to change anything. Till now, the results are good. It’s not easy to implement a new style of play with 24 new players. I think it’s important to keep the level, it’s important to know that we need to improve a lot of things. But, I am happy.”

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