ISL 2015: Mumbai City lost midfield battle with Atletico de Kolkata according to Oscar Bruzon
Mumbai City FC were brought back down to earth by a clinical Atletico de Kolkata side who ran out 4-1 winners in the game at Mumbai’s Dr. DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night. Mumbai City’s much-fancied attack was blunted by a stern Atletico de Kolkata defence as the champions got their campaign up and running again.
Analyzing Mumbai City FC’s downfall, assistant coach Oscar Bruzon concluded that his team lost the game in the first half at the end of which they left themselves too much to do in the second half.
“I think we lost the game in the first half and not the second. We were much better in the second half, but it was too late then,” conceded Bruzon as he spoke at the post-match press conference.
Mumbai City were second best in midfield and lost almost 80-90% of the second balls, according to Bruzon who highlighted that fact as the reason for his side’s loss against the Champions.
“We had problems in our midfield and on our right-hand side. Atletico won almost 80-90% of the second balls in midfield and played a good game on the counter-attack. I feel our midfielders didn’t have it their way today and that’s why we lost the game,” added Bruzon.
Atletico were hungrier to win: Bruzon
The Spaniard was also critical of Mumbai City’s reaction after scoring the goal and felt that his team kept too many of their players up-field in the build-up to Atletico de Kolkata’s third goal.
“We did well in the first 20 minutes of the second half and got ourselves back in the game, but we were too occupied in the combinations up front and kept too many numbers forward. Atletico realized that and they got control of the ball and got their third goal which killed us,” the Mumbai City assistant coach expressed.
However, Bruzon conceded that their opponents showed more hunger and desire and also read the game better than his team.
“I feel Atletico wanted this game more strongly than us. They were hungrier than us. Also, I feel they were focused, we were slightly coy and were mostly reacting to what Atletico did.”
But Bruzon isn’t too concerned about his team’s credentials and declared that his team will go with great belief in their next game which is away to the Delhi Dynamos.
“I still believe we have one of the best squads in the ISL, we will continue to be positive in our next game and see what we can do,” concluded Bruzon.