Khalid Jamil humbly accepts the blame for Mumbai’s defeat

by Vidhi Shah April 4, 2015

Selecting the right person for the right job is the largest part of coaching. –Phil Crosby

This is what was exactly reflected when Khalid Jamil spoke to the media after Mumbai FC’s 6-0 defeat to Shillong Lajong at Cooperage this Friday. The first thing the coach mentioned was that the loss was entirely his mistake since he had faltered when it came to the selections and playing positions, formations.

Summarizing the 90 minutes, he said, “We had a silly start, moreover we conceded a couple of goals. Then in the second half as well we did not rectify our mistake and they fired in two more goals soon after the break. The playing 11 did not click as one unit and hence we were unable to perform well.”

He was modest when it came to praising Shillong’s victory, saying that they deserved it because they were superior in all aspects of the game whether tactically, physically or mentally.

Khalid Jamil mentioned quite a few reasons that culminated in the big defeat. A defensive lapse and the absence of Taisuke and Jayesh Rane did impact the team and players who replaced them weren’t up to the mark. They also failed to capitalize on a couple of opportunities to score and took Shillong’s marquee player Cornell Glen a bit too lightly which allowed him to play his best game of the season so far. Also, the half time break proved to be a kind of a disadvantage since Mumbai FC was just building its rhythm then.

When it came to player analysis, Khalid Jamil was quick to defend Climax Lawrence saying the ex- India international had tried his best. However, for the two youngsters Rahul and Ashutosh, he mentioned that they lagged behind when it came to defending as well as failed to attack when the spaces opened up, the transitions could have been smoother.

Looking ahead, the coach is content that they have a match within a short time frame for it will allow the players to put this loss behind them quickly and focus on winning the next fixture. Nevertheless, he is aware that the players will have to be motivated quite a lot, “It’s a tricky situation. Rather than blaming and magnifying their mistakes, I would look to give them pep talks and restore their confidence and self belief.”

Mumbai FC next play an away game against the defending champions Bengaluru FC on Tuesday. In Khalid’s opinion, pitted against tough opponents, it will enable the players to forget this loss like a bad dream and showcase their resilience and mettle. He is sure with a good performance and a little bit of luck by their side; Mumbai can sneak in a win!