Des Buckingham wants Mumbai to keep playing expansive football

The Islanders are at the top of the table with nine points from four games.

Mumbai City FC welcome Jamshedpur FC at the Fatorda Stadium on the fifth matchday of the Indian Super League (ISL). Des Buckingham's side, with three wins from four games, are the team to beat this season. Despite a change in the managerial department, the defending champions seem to have begun their campaign from where they left last season.

On the other hand, Jamshedpur have continued to climb the league table for the past three seasons. The Men of Steel are now the most obvious challengers for Mumbai City. Jamshedpur sit just below the Islanders on the points table, with eight points from four games.

Mumbai City head coach Des Buckingham and midfielder Raynier Fernandes met the media to discuss the top-of-the-table clash with Jamshedpur:

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Raynier's thoughts on Mumbai's campaign so far

Raynier wants his team to continue with the momentum they have. The Indian international believes they have started well and should continue working hard.

"We've started the season well. We had four weeks of pre-season and it was good. We had a plan and we showed it in the first game, played well and got three points. In the second game, we had some downfalls. We performed well, but we weren't up to the mark. We couldn't get the three points. In the third and fourth games, we did well and got two wins. That shows that we came back strong. We're going to keep the momentum the same way," the 25-year-old midfielder quipped.

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On his performance against Bengaluru FC

Raynier came on as a substitute against Bengaluru FC. He, alongside Lalengmawia Ralte, were the show-stealers in midfield. The player is happy to keep getting those crucial minutes. He wants to help his team retain the league title.

"Whatever I was doing in the training sessions, I wanted to implement the same things. When I came on, I tried to do my best and help the team. At the end of it, we got three points. But, it was a team effort. I'm very glad that I got to play the second half. I really wanted to play that game. It went well," Raynier recalled.

Difference between last & ongoing season

Mumbai City won the domestic double last season. However, that is now the past for Fernandes. He wants to look forward and work hard to win more laurels with his club.

"Last year we won the shield and the trophy. But, that's all in the past. We cannot keep living it and have to move on from that. This season is a new journey and a new challenge for us. It is time we defend the shield and the trophy. So, we as a team have to be like a family and work even harder. We are doing the same things this year, " Raynier answered.

Thoughts on working with Des Buckingham

Mumbai City FC won the double with then coach Sergio Lobera. However, the City Football Group (CFG) decided to replace the Spaniard with Des Buckingham. Buckingham comes from the Australian first division club Melbourne City, a team also owned by CFG. They, like their sister club Mumbai City, won the domestic double last season.

Raynier believes the experience of Des comes in handy in tricky situations. He also feels they have a lot to learn from their tactician.

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He said, "Last year when he was in Australia, he won the shield and the trophy. So, that shows that he has come with a lot of experience. It's good for players like me and the youngsters, as we get to learn a lot from a coach like Des. When the coach has confidence in you and the team, it helps the team. I'm very happy that I get the playing time I want."

Perfect start with Mumbai City FC

Mumbai might have begun the season well, but it is far from over. Des Buckingham and his team need to be at their best to continue the form they have shown early on. The Englishman knows it and wants the team to not lose sight of what they want to achieve this year.

"It's a good start. It doesn't matter where you are in the league right now. It matters where you finish at the end of the season. For me, it was about making a good start. And I felt we did that against Goa. From there, it's been about getting better every game. I think we have shown real signs of doing that from game one to game four. It's going to be so important that we do that in-game five," the 36-year-old quoted.

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Failure to keep clean-sheets

Mumbai City have been winning games with considerable margins. However, they keep conceding goals and are struggling to keep clean-sheets. However, it doesn't concern head coach Des. He knows that the way he wants them to play would mean they keep giving chances. He maintains that he wants to limit those chances to the areas that do lesser damage. But, they won't defend deep with every player behind the ball.

He commented, "I think you'll love to win every game with a clean-sheet. But, the way we want to play is it's an expansive game. It's an exciting game, where we commit players forward and I won't change that. I've said, I want to be exciting about the way we play.

"Sticking the whole team behind the ball for large portions of the game isn't an exciting one for me to watch from the sidelines. It isn't the brand of football that we want to show people. So, we will be giving chances away, but we will try to keep those chances to few. I want to keep those chances away from my goal. We will continue to try and play an attacking brand of football," he added.

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On Jamshedpur FC head coach Owen Coyle

Des Buckingham is in awe of the career of Jamshedpur FC coach Owen Coyle. He also loves the intensity with which Jamshedpur play. Des wants his team to match the Men of Steel at it, if not better them. He also wants his team to focus more on their gameplan than their opponents.

"They've got a hugely experienced manager in Owen Coyle. And the career that Owen has had, if I can have half of that in my coaching career, I'll be extremely proud. Their work-rate is unbelievable. Now, we are going to have to at least match that, if not better it to make sure we start level with them.

"That have quality across the pitch that we need to be aware of. We have prepared for that and now it's very important we focus on ourselves. We have to make sure that we adapt and evolve our playing style to make sure we can cause them problems," the MCFC coach mentioned.

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