Bipin Singh has made massive progress ever since he joined Mumbai City FC from ATK FC ahead of the Hero ISL 2018-19 season. Having improved multiple different aspects of his playing style under several distinct managers, Bipin has toiled effortlessly to be a starter and is currently one of the most crucial players in the team.

Hailing from Manipur, the 27-year-old has been a bundle of joy for the Islanders’ supporters, giving them a number of iconic performances ranging from his first-ever Hero ISL hattrick to handing them the historic Hero ISL double after his match-winning goal against ATK Mohun Bagan.

“Abhi toh ghar jaise hogaya hai (It’s like a home now). Everyone from the staff, management and teammates have become like a family to me,” exclaimed Bipin in an exclusive interview with Football Counter.

Having been here for five years now, the forward has formed a close bond with Bhaskar Roy and Mohammad Nawaz, and is lively when it comes to football discussions, gym sessions, games, etc.

Bipin started off the 2022-23 season strongly as he accomplished a landmark achievement in his career by becoming the joint all-time leading goalscorer for Mumbai City FC in the Hero ISL with 15 goals to his name, sharing the record with former player Modou Sougou. However, the attacker shows no signs of stopping and is hungry for more as he aims to beat his last season’s tally of six goals.

“Last season, I scored 6 goals, and in the season before I had scored six goals too. I had a few assists also in these seasons. My current aim is to increase the tally, score more than six goals for the club and win more matches,” stated Bipin.

The Des Buckingham-coached side couldn’t make it to the top four last season, but have an upsurge in their squad this season with new signings such as Greg Stewart, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Rostyn Griffiths, and Alberto Noguera. With a wealth of quality foreign and domestic attackers, Buckingham has immense attacking depth in the squad, which serves as healthy competition amongst the players.

“It’s a good thing, there should be competitiveness within the team, helps you push harder and not take things lightly. Every player has to give his best in the training to prove his place in the team. This competition helps us to give our 100%; everybody knows the spot in the team is not to be taken for granted. We know we have to work and look for improvement all the time,” added Bipin on how the competitiveness in the team makes everyone strive harder to give their best.

If anything, Bipin has had the luxury of playing under three extremely talented and clever managers in Jorge Costa, Sergio Lobera, and now Des Buckingham. The winger has shown progress under each of them and has immensely benefited from their learnings, shaping his career towards the right direction.

“Jorge Costa made me a fighter and to be a bit aggressive. Earlier I wasn’t that aggressive or a fighter but he changed that. Then Lobera came and he expected us to play in a certain way and I became a regular in the line-up during his time,” he averred.

Bipin nearly replicated his 2020-21 season stats under Buckingham’s first tenure with the team, having nine goal contributions consisting of six goals and three assists. He feels he has more to offer and Buckingham pushes him towards his best self.

“He is a very positive coach, He always has a positive thing to say to us, always motivates me, and expects me to do more,” he concluded.

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2022-2023Mumbai City FC Bipin Singh