We need to play our natural game: Khalid Jamil

by Kaushal Shukla April 11, 2015

Khalid Jamil’s men showed great resilience to earn a draw away to Bengaluru FC after the 6-0 mauling by Shillong Lajong. Mumbai FC now face another stern test against Dempo S.C a team whom they have never beaten ever in their history.

Khalid Jamil hailed his team’s performance against Bengaluru FC and felt his side displayed great powers of concentration in a difficult environment. “My players had very high levels of concentrations. Right from the striker to the goalkeeper, everyone was totally focussed. After the game against Shillong I asked my team to go out their and enjoy and forget what happened against Shillong and that worked for us”.

Looking ahead to the game against Dempo, Khalid Jamil is not too bothered about the history and believes it’s a fresh challenge for his side. “We don’t think about what happened in the past. Our focus is completely on the game tomorrow”.

The Mumbai FC coach urged his team not be under pressure and asked them to play their natural game. “We have to play our natural game. It is an important game for us, but we need not feel any pressure. Everyone should go out and keep playing their natural game and the results will come”.

Khalid Jamil has a few injury concerns for tomorrow’s game and is unsure about the fitness of Taisuke Matsugae in midfield. “Taisuke is not fully fit. He is still 50-50. He may or may not play. Justine Stephen is back and Jayesh Rane played ninety minutes last time out and so he should be fine”.

Khalid Jamil is giving his captain and skipper Nidhin Lal time to recover from the 6-0 hammering by Shillong Lajong and claimed the goalkeeper was very upset about the result. “Nidhin was very upset after the game. It was the first time such thing had happened to him and he is still trying to recover from it. So he may or may not play tomorrow”.

Jamil will be hoping his side get back to winning ways at home after three consecutive home games without a win. A win could see Mumbai FC rise to the sixth place in the I-League charts and further increase their gap from the bottom of the table.