Mumbai City FC were condemned to back to back defeats at home in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 after Bengaluru FC beat them 3-1 at the Mumbai Football Arena on Thursday. Sunil Chhetri struck twice and Miku netted a freekick for the Blues, while Leo Costa pulled one back for the Islanders.

The loss keeps Mumbai in fifth spot in table and their head coach Alexandre Guimaraes was left to rue Chhetri’s penalty that opened the scoring on the night for Bengaluru. “Well, I feel that we did a very good first half which was like a very open game. But unfortunately, we conceded a penalty. Then, we made some plans in the dressing room but again they started well in the second half and got the second goal. That made it more difficult for us,” the Costa Rican told reporters at the post-match press conference.

He continued: “They managed the tempo of the game well. We did all we had to do and risked everything. Then we got a good reaction which kept us in the game. What is important now is to recover, physically for the players, as some of them felt the intensity of these last two games we had. Now we have to move forward, that’s it.”

While expanding on his side’s shortcomings in the opening period, Guimaraes added: “Like I said, in the first half, unfortunately, we had problems after reaching the final third, near their defence. We didn’t have the quality to finish better or to choose better. We couldn’t take advantage after arriving to this area and that is what the game is about, right?”

Guimaraes was quick to bat away suggestions that his side’s intensity dropped after Bengaluru doubled their lead. “Not at all. After the (Bengaluru’s) second goal, as I said before, we did some movements, tried to take the risks and then they got another goal. It was a very intelligent decision the striker from Bengaluru took. We then got back into the game with Leo Costa coming in. We scored and came close. Now we will continue to fight and we know that anything can happen,” he said.

When asked about Bengaluru’s propensity to attack from the flanks, the 58-year-old said: “From the beginning we knew that they would want to use the wings and we put Abinash Ruidas and Raju Gaikwad there, but Raju got injured and was taken off. Like I said, in the first half, we more or less managed the situation. It was a very equal game.”

Guimaraes also highlighted the importance of recovery for his players as he looks ahead to the remaining matches in the Islanders’ campaign. “The next 48 hours will be very important for us. We have to see how some players who had some problems during the game react. After that, we will think about the next one,” he said.