We have learnt a big lesson from this defeat: Guimaraes

The Mumbai manager said his team have to play with more intensity...

Mumbai City FC head coach Alexandre Guimaraes was quick to take lessons from his team’s 3-2 defeat by Atlético de Kolkata in the first leg of the first semi-final of the Indian Super League at the RabindraSarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.

In a high-octane match, LalrindikaRale put the hosts into the lead in the third minute, after which Mumbai scored two quick goals through Leo Costa and Gerson Vieira. Their joy was short-lived though, as Iain Hume scored a brace (first goal in the 39th minute and second in first-half stoppage time) to break the Mumbaikars’ hearts.

Speaking to the media after the game, Guimaraes said he had got his lesson ahead of the second leg in Mumbai on Tuesday. “It was not just me but the whole team [has got the lesson] that we have to play with intensity and we have to do that. If we play with good intensity, I know we have a good chance.

“Nobody expects that we finish the first 45 minutes with five goals but that is football and it can happen. After that we understood how we have to play in these kinds of games. We have got to reduce errors.”

In one massive blow to the team, marquee man Diego Forlan received a red card (two yellow) for kicking out at Jewel Raja in the 74th minute and consequently won’t be available for the second leg. Guimaraes shared his thoughts on the matter. “I think today he just showed that he is human. Now we have a similar situation, like we had at the start and we managed well [without him] and we have got to understand that in these kinds of games, we have got to play with a different stamina and I am sure whoever will play in his place will do well, and regarding the disadvantage, I can only tell after the game,” the 57-year-old said.

Besides the penalty conceded by SenaRalte for Hume’s second goal, the match also witnessed six yellow cards. Be that as it may, Guimaraes said he was satisfied with the quality of refereeing. “There is no point talking about the referee and these kinds of games are different and most of them like hard contact, which was normal for me and this is football.”

Guimaraes also shed light on why MatiasDefederico didn’t start on Saturday. “Yesterday after practice he felt a bit tight and our medical department tried to get him fit but the doctor told me that we cannot let him play full 90 minutes, and I hope he can be available to play on Tuesday,” he said.

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Photo Courtesy: ISL Media

Report by Khel Now Correspondent Kushankur Rony Rakshit. Sports passionate and content writer. He is big football and cricket fan.