ISL 2016: Mumbai City FC's Alexandre Guimares dismisses ATK's claims of a 'win by chance'

Kolkata: Mumbai City FC manager Alexandre Guimares challenged sides in the Indian Super League (ISL) to repeat his team’s feat of beating Atletico de Kolkata in their own backyard, despite being crippled by a host of injuries, after Atletico’s assistant coach called their victory a ‘win by chance’. Diego Forlan struck in the 79th minute for the visitors to give them a 1-0 win at the Ranindra Sarobar stadium in Kolkata. That win also ended the home side’s unbeaten record in the ISL this season. [caption id=“attachment_3073740” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mumbai City FC head coach Alexandre Guimares during match with Atletico de Kolkata. ISL[/caption] “I’d like to see one other team to come here and play against a very good team, without all the players that we didn’t have, without one of the best goalkeepers in the ISL which we lost just two hours before kick-off and the play the way we did in both the halves and win the match,” the Mumbai City FC manager responded when asked to comment on Roy’s claim that their win involved an element of luck. The Uruguain hailed the team’s performance during the win and highlighted the fact that his players understood the roles they had to play in the tweaked line-up. “Today everybody understood our situation and did extremely well. I am happy with the performance of the whole team including the players that came from the bench,” he said. Mumbai City FC were the better team in the first half, but Atletico came back stronger in the second half to put pressure on the Mumbai City FC defence. Coach Guimares was delighted with the way his side dealt with the threat in the latter half. “In the first half we played very well, in second half, we also played well and defended well. Football is all about taking your chances. We took our chance. Maybe we had more clear chances in the first half, but we took our chances in the second half and won it.” he said. “In the second half we reduced their game only to crosses and we managed well with the players that we put at the back,” he added. Mumbai City had relinquished a first half lead in the reverse fixture this season and the Uruguain manager felt his side learnt from those mistakes and put out a stronger show to deal with Atletico’s reaction. “I think that we learnt from our last game against ATK. In the last game too in the first half we had the chance to finish the game and we didn’t do that. So the players learnt that they are going to play against a very good team that will react after being second best in a period of play,” Guimares said. Atletico will get better once Helder Postiga return: Sourav Ganguly Former Indian cricket captain and co-owner of Atletico, Sourav Ganguly refused to dwell of the defeat too much and felt that his team will improve once Postiga returns to full fitness. “It’s just one defeat. In sports you win some, you lose some. So I don’t think there is any reason to worry for the fans,” Ganguly told a group of reporters after the game. However, he admitted that the forward line didn’t look it’s part against Mumbai City and felt that Postiga’s return will give their attack a timely boost. “I think once Postiga is fit, our attack will get sorted. I’m sure that Postiga will be fit to contribute in bigger games,” he added. Very happy to see Kolkata crowd cheer for me: Sony Norde Mumbai City FC striker on the day, Sony Norde was given a warm reception by the Kolkata fans when he was substituted. The Haitian thanked the Mohun Bagan fans for their support and said he felt at home. “This was very important for me as I felt, I played at home. I would like to thank the Mohun Bagan fans who are always with me. I’m very happy for that,” Norde told reporters after the game. Speaking about his future at Mohun Bagan, Norde vowed to stay on with the club that he loved.  “I’m always with them (Mohun Bagan fans) and they know that I love them. When I play for Mohun Bagan I always give my best, so they always support me and I’m grateful for that,” Norde added. Mumbai City FC will now take on Chennaiyin FC in their next game at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Chennai on 2 November, while Atletico de Kolkata will travel to Guwahati to face NorthEast United on 28 October.