Mumbai City FC’s Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 journey started on a disappointing note as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hero ISL debutants, Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Mumbai put on a sturdy defensive display but Bengaluru’s Eduardo Garcia and Sunil Chhetri managed to penetrate their resistance.

In the post-match press conference, Mumbai’s head coach Alexandre Guimaraes did not shy away from applauding his opponents of the night. He told the reporters, “We always try to win, that’s our goal. Although we had a few upsets and injuries, that is no excuse as Bengaluru definitely played really well. But it’s a good learning experience and we now know what we need to do for our next game (against FC Goa).”

Bengaluru FC has the distinction of having one of the most passionate fan bases in the country. The ‘West Block Blues’ packed the stadium in huge numbers to create an electric and hostile atmosphere for Mumbai. Guimaraes, however, wasn’t of the opinion that Bengaluru’s vociferous fans intimidated his players.

“The first game is always difficult, especially going up against a team that has played together for a longer time. But the atmosphere was fantastic and cannot be used as an excuse for what the final result is. The first half wasn’t as good as the second, as we then realized what we had to do. After the necessary changes were made, we covered up the empty spaces on the field which the other team previously used against us. Also, scoring goals is the main objective of any game and that is something we need to focus more on,” the Costa Rican said.

When asked how he compares the recent crop of players in Mumbai’s squad to that of previous seasons, he said: “It is difficult to compare as both our teams have had different players. But I know for sure that we need to work hard and correct our mistakes to be more competitive in the coming games. This is just the beginning. We will train harder and then see who are the real contenders for this championship.”