'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's not been the greatest of starts to the new year for Mumbai City FC. On Thursday, they suffered their third home loss on the trot and were dealt a massive blow in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
Jamshedpur FC earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mumbai and catapulted themselves to the top four, albeit temporarily. Mumbai, on the other hand, remain in the sixth position, level on points with Kerala Blasters after thirteen rounds of games (17 points).
After the game, Mumbai coach Alexandre Guimaraes suggested that his team did not deserve to lose the game and rued the fact that his players were tepid in front of goal on a night when they desperately needed to pick up all three points.
“Sometimes football doesn't give you the reward that you work for, we played very well today but we didn't convert the possibilities we had and when that happens, it can put you in trouble. They profited from our error in the first half and in the second half, we took our risks,” he said.
Mumbai have five games remaining and will, in all probability, need to win all their matches to be in the fray for a playoff spot. Guimaraes admitted that it is getting increasingly difficult but refused to throw in the towel at this stage.
"It's not the situation that we had in mind, we didn't get the points when we played well. We still have our chances to be in the top 4 but it will be more difficult. Anything can happen, there have been times when teams have won 5-6 games in a row," he said.
Mumbai's main striker, Balwant Singh, had a night to forget. The Indian forward had multiple opportunities to give his side the lead but time and again, he fluffed his chances in front of goal. Guimaraes refused to pin the blame on Singh.
“Balwant has been our top scorer. Sometimes, players have such nights. I'm sure he will fight much more in the next match to get over today's situation,” he stated.
