Anxious Khalid Jamil gunning for more goals

by Kaushal Shukla May 20, 2015

Sitting just a point above the drop zone, Mumbai FC find themselves in an uncomfortable position despite being four places off the danger zone. With five draws in their last five games, it would right to say Mumbai FC are limping and inching towards safety. But with the teams below them having played a game less, yet another point from today’s clash with East Bengal might not prove to be enough.

Despite the pressure situation, Khalid Jamil portrayed a usual calmness in his press conference ahead of the game, but couldn’t quite hide his anxiety and eagerness to register a first win in over 80 days. “Tomorrow only one thing will suffice and that is a win. We have to be give our all and try our best to win the game”, said the Mumbai FC coach.

Khalid Jamil’s side have been undone many times despite taking the lead in games in recent times and Khalid Jamil stressed the importance of scoring more goals to secure all three points. “We have to score goals. We can’t be happy with just one and need go ahead and get the second goal and make the game safe”.

But scoring goals won’t be easy against a side like East Bengal and coach Khalid Jamil was wary of the quality that their opponents possess. “We know they are a very good side. I feel they are the best team in the country in terms of quality of play and keeping ball possession and we have to respect that fact and play accordingly”.

Despite having already drawn against East Bengal twice this season, Khalid Jamil is taking nothing for granted especially with the likes of Ranti Martins and Dudu Omagbemi in their ranks. “Their forwards are very strong and have started to click in the last few games. We have to stop them from playing or else we will be in trouble. We have managed to do that in the two games we have played against them this season, so we are confident”.

Dudu Omagbemi and Ranti Martins have played a major role in twenty three of East Bengal’s twenty six points this season with only the win against Bengaluru FC being the exception where either of the two haven’t scored and East Bengal has managed to pick up any points in a game.

Khalid Jamil has some injury worries with Colling Abranches and Vashum ruled out for the game against East Bengal, but expects Taisuke to return to the side. “Collin and Vashum are out. I will have a look at Taisuke in the training session and take a decision on him, but he is more likely to make it”.

Despite being winless since Feabruary, coach Khalid Jamil felt his side are getting back to their best and hailed his side’s performance in their last game against Dempo. “We were very good against Dempo. I felt it was one of our best performances of the season. We created many chances but failed to take them and were slightly unfortunate to have our goal ruled out”.

Taisuke Matsuage’ return and upturn in Mumbai FC’s form could well see a long awaited win for the Mumbaikars. All of Mumbai’s wins have come with the Japanese in their ranks and that could just see them in the top flight again this season.