Sergio Lobera stresses on importance of loyalty to playing style

The Islanders' boss spoke after registering the biggest win of the season so far, against Odisha FC on Wednesday.

Mumbai City FC comprehensively defeated bottom-placed Odisha FC by 6-1 to come on level terms with ATK Mohun Bagan in terms of goal-difference. Subsequently, Sergio Lobera and his boys have further enhanced their chances to obtain the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL) standings.

The Islanders’ fates of AFC Champions League qualification is entirely in their hands now as the team will now gear up for the final showdown against the Mariners on February 28. On Wednesday, Bipin Singh scored a hat-trick whereas Bartholomew Ogbeche bagged a brace to ensure a thumping victory for them against the Juggernauts. Here are the excerpts from the head coach Lobera’s post-match media interaction.

Best result of the season?

Sergio Lobera had termed Mumbai’s 2-0 loss against Jamshedpur FC in the last match as their worst game of the season. Asked whether they delivered their best performance of the campaign tonight, he said, “Maybe, maybe.

"I think of course the result was the best. But, the most important thing for me is not the result, it’s how the team got the result. Because we react very well in difficult conditions. At the start of the game, we conceded a penalty and a goal. I think that it is very important to be loyal to our style of play at this moment, to be strong. I am very happy with the performance of the team and how we won the game.”

The Spaniard also believed that his side consciously improved on their mistakes from the last outing. He elaborated, “Yes. I think it’s very important for the mistakes we had in the last game, maybe it’s to try to play with individual decisions, to try to arrive quickly in the opponent goal but today we were very strong as a team, loyal with our style of play, playing with the heart but with the head is very important. I am very happy with our performance and as I told you before our style of play.”

Statement to ATK Mohun Bagan?

The metropolis club will play probably their most important encounter of the season against Antonio Lopez Habas’ men on Sunday. Lobera was probed whether the performance against the Juggernauts was a statement to their upcoming opponents.

“We need to put our focus on ourselves. We need to improve every game and should be ambitious. ATKMB are doing a great and very amazing job and it’s going to be an amazing match I think. It’s very good for the league. I think that we deserve to arrive in the last game with our options and now, hopefully, it’s possible to win the next game,” the tactician remarked.

Thoughts on not maintaining a clean sheet

https://youtu.be/cINy3LOBKf4

Mumbai’s attacking display was miles better against Odisha FC than their previous few matches. However, they started the match on a slightly disappointing note as Diego Mauricio converted a spot-kick in the seventh minute. After the game, Sergio Lobera was asked whether he was slightly disappointed at not maintaining a clean sheet.

“No, I think although we conceded a penalty we defended very well today - not only defending in transitions from attack to defence but also defending with the ball because this is important for us. The number of passes, the per cent of possession of the ball was amazing and this is the best way to defend, according to us. And finally, about the clean sheet, today as a coach I need to analyze a lot of things and I am very happy,” the 44-year-old quipped.

Le Fondre-Ogbeche partnership

Adam Le Fondre and Bartholomew Ogbeche have rarely started together this time around. However, they were fielded alongside each other against Odisha and the partnership clicked well as the Nigerian scored twice to put Mumbai on the front-foot. Subsequently, Lobera was asked to comment on whether he has cracked the code of playing the two top strikers together.

He explained, “As I told you before a lot of times, they can play together. But every game, every rival team is different, the context is different. In the game today I think it was the best option for us but sometimes my decision is to play with only one striker.”

“They are very good players with experience and they manage this situation very well when they are playing, when they are coming from the bench… this is amazing for me and as a coach, it’s the most important thing. I have a very good squad, not only a very good first XI. It’s important for me to have many options," the head coach further added.

Rationale behind triple substitution in the 52nd minute

As Mumbai gained a 4-1 lead, Lobera substituted out the trio of Mourtada Fall, Amey Ranawade and Adam Le Fondre in the 52nd minute. Apparently, the coach was trying to protect his players from being suspended for the next game against ATKMB.

Lobera revealed, “We needed to think about the next game. We had players with three yellow cards. I wanted to avoid (the suspension of) at least one player for the next game. I made substitutions because obviously I was thinking of the next game and I don’t want to lose the players. But the players who were coming from the bench, they are of the same level as of the players who were playing.”

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