AGENCIES, MUMBAI: In danger of being relegated to the second division of I-League after a string of poor results, Mumbai FC (MFC) are pinning their faith on new head coach Oscar Bruzon as they head into tomorrow’s do-or-die football game against Churchill Brothers.
With just four games remaining to be played by every side, the relegation picture in the league is clearer now.
The battle is now between Bruzon’s MFC and Derrick Pereira-coached Churchill Brothers as new entrants Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab are safe from being demoted.
Pune-based DSK Shivajians are also exempt from relegation on account of a three-year insulation they received when they joined the league.
Compared to their counterparts from Mumbai, Goa outfit Churchill Brothers can boast of defeating sides like Mohun Bagan, Kingfisher East Bengal and Bengaluru FC among their recent run of games. Head Coach Derrick Pereira was frank and optimistic as relayed his thoughts ahead of the game.
“My objective is to avoid relegation. The international break hasn’t broken the momentum we’ve been able to gather. We played a practice match against Dempo, and I’ve to say we looked good,” said Derrick.
Derrick Pereira was sympathetic as he was able to relate with Oscar Bruzon on a professional level. “ It’s a tough job. I was fortunate to take over the team when the season was still warm. It’s a team game, and Coaches obviously need time. It’ll be difficult for them, they’re last on the table, and they’ll have to win everything,” he added.
“They have a set of foreigners, especially up front. They are very dangerous in counter attacks if we give space to them. But if we can control the game, I feel that is the best way to beat Churchill,” said Spaniard Bruzon.
The trio of foreigners he was referring to were Bektur Talgat (Kyrgyzstan), Ansumana Kromah (Liberia) and Anthony Wolfe (Trinidad and Tobago).
“They are a tough team and are coached by the best Indian coach – Derrick, but from tomorrow Mumbai FC will also be a tough team and will be ready to fight with anybody,” said Bruzon, who took over the reins on March 16 after MFC sacked Santosh Kashyap following a 12-game winless streak.
MFC are lying at the bottom of the ten-team table with 10 points, while Churchill are occupying the sixth slot with 16 points and are followed by DSK, Chennai City and Minerva.
“Now we are completely focused on tomorrow’s game. My communication has been clear and we are talking football language. We are approaching from different angles and from my side all angles are positive,” said Bruzon, who has a 45-day contract with MFC.
The team’s key player and goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani, too, did not want to dwell on the past.
“Everyone knows we are in a bad phase, but in football anything can happen. As the coach (Bruzon) said we will go out for a win tomorrow. Pressure is always there and it’s up to us to show how good we are tomorrow,” said Kattimani.
