Jorge Costa: We can't compare Kerala Blasters to last season

The Portuguese tactician also feels that despite the result he will not be surprised by the match on Thursday.

Ahead of his side's first game of the league campaign against Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City FC head coach Jorge Costa spoke to the press ahead of Thursday's game in Kochi. Jorge Costa expressed his delight at the contingent of Indian players at his disposal and admitted that he is having a team-selection dilemma, with his 25-man squad putting his sleep in jeopardy.

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"Last season almost all the games, we played with Sehnaj (Singh), Milan Singh, Raynier (Fernandes) also and the difference is that we have (Rowlin) Borges and Raynier but not the last because Borges was suspended. But, normally they are the international players from India," Jorge Costa began.

"It's almost the same case. The good thing is that I have very good Indian players. I have lot of options. I don't have 11 players, I have 25 players and I trust all them. It will be difficult for me to sleep because to take decisions to put 11 players to start the game, it will not be easy. This is what all the coaches deal with," the Portuguese tactician explained.

On Mumbai City Squad And Financial Constraints

While Jorge Costa is happy with the Indian players in his squad, the 48-year-old conceded that the Islanders could not spend big on foreign players, as they did not have a huge budget.

"The good thing, thinking about my team, not thinking about Indian football, is that in the other positions I have fortunately Indian players with a lot of quality. So, (we are) building the team with the foreign players that we had the chance to sign and it was not easy for us because our budget is not so high and having very good Indian players in other positions, I decided to sign these players," Jorge Costa revealed.

On Rowllin Borges

The signing of Rowllin Borges from NorthEast United is arguably one of the best pieces of business Mumbai City have done during the summer transfer window. While Jorge Costa insisted that he prefers not to speak about individual players, the Portuguese tactician revealed that the Islanders watched Borges over the course of last season. The Mumbai City FC head coach also revealed that he is glad that his side signed the midfielder before any of his league rivals could and is confident that the player will bring a lot to the table.

"We've been following Borges over the last season. Fortunately for us, we signed him before maybe the other clubs, or eight. He's a player that I'm sure will help us a lot during this season. He's a different player, Indian different player, that we didn't have last season. So, I'm hoping and I'm sure that we will not be surprised because all of us, we know him," Jorge Costa said.

On Kerala Blasters

The Portuguese proceeded to express his views on Mumbai City's opponents on Thursday, Kerala Blasters, and revealed that he was not surprised with them winning their season opener against ATK on Sunday. The 48-year-old also believes it is not right to compare this season's Blasters to that of last campaign, as they have brought in a new coach and a whole new set of players.

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"New players, new coach, so we cannot compare this team with the team from last season," Costa opined.

"Of course, we watched the game, we studied the team. About the game, it was the first game of the season. It was not a wonderful game, but it was a very good game," he added.

"For me, it was the first time I watched Kerala play, but it was not a surprise. I know all the players before, I know this coach because he was here last season. So, it was not a surprise," Jorge Costa quipped.

"What will happen in the game (tomorrow), it will not be a surprise for me. In a game it is 11 against 11. Sometimes, we make mistakes, sometimes we make wonderful things. No matter what will happen tomorrow, in terms of results, it will not be a surprise for me," Costa concluded.