The foreign players are helpful for the development of football in this country-Guimaraes

The Mumbai boss also refuted the suggestion that his team are a one-man team…

After a draw against Chennaiyin FC at Marina Arena in less than 72 hours, Mumbai City FC have to take on NorthEast United at their home ground on Saturday. But their Costa Rican boss Alexandre Guimares is all set to take on the challenge against the Highlanders and is looking for full points to reach the the top of the table. “Every team has to go through that. I saw the faces of the players and they looked in a good state.” said the coach. “We had light practice today and then we have the situation of the game tomorrow. We don’t put excuses and we have to play well to get points from here,” further added the manager. On being quizzed about the injury concerns for the squad, he explained, “I make three possible line-ups everyday and then I have to confirm with the doctors if they can play or not. That will depend tomorrow morning after we talk to the players and the doctors who update me for the players coming out of injuries. We are doing well right? So, you have got to see.” “We hope to form our first game we have been in the top four till now, will try hard to keep that position, they are also like in the same situations, they were in top four, injuries like us, they are tough and we need to get the game under our control.” said Guimares about the opponent NorthEast United FC. The coach refused to accept the suggestion of Mumbai being all about Diego Forlan and said, “All the players are prepared and none of them have disappointed us. We can count on all players in each position. All of them have minutes under their belt and it speaks volumes.” Halfway through the season the teams are now jostling for positions in the play-offs. “We need to keep doing what we have done and the teams are racing towards the finish line. It’s hard to keep what we have been keeping from the beginning, but I am confident that we will do it.” Taking a question on whether the ISL will maintain the same level of quality if the numbers of foreigners have to decrease in each team the coach said, “Well, this is my first season in the ISL and I don’t have a good idea about the other two seasons what the foreigners from the teams brought to the ISL. My experience from these eight games is that, when you introduce new games, develop new leagues, youngsters and kids have to have different kinds of examples, different kinds of players and the level of the foreign players that the ISL has introduced is helpful for the development of football in this country,” concluded the coach of MCFC. Photo © ISL Media