ISL 2022-23: Very happy with what we’re doing and how we’re doing it – Des Buckingham after 4-0 win against NorthEast United FC

Mumbai City FC continued their supremacy in the ongoing Hero Indian Super League after they bested NorthEast United by 4-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai on Thursday. The team’s head coach Des Buckingham was delighted with his team’s domination and the way they have been playing.

The Islanders smashed all four goals in the first half of play as they were once again at their absolute best. Ahmed Jahouh scored in the fifth minute of the game to give a lead to his team and from there on, it was just one-way traffic.

Pereyra Diaz scored after six minutes to double the home team’s lead. However, Saji’s own goal in the 15th minute added salt to NorthEast United FC’s wounds. Vinit R also got himself on the scoring sheet in the 45th minute of the game.

“I think to start and start as well as we did was pleasing. I think we’ve done that now for two consecutive home games, this time to keep going was to keep going to try and continue to play the way we want first and to try and score more goals but only if it’s the right time and the right place. So it wasn’t trying to force things. It was an opportunity to do two things. One was to continue to try and make sure we kept a clean sheet which was important to us and then the other important thing which is making sure all the other players that we could on the bench got minutes into because again, that’s gonna be so important today and in the final five league games.” Buckingham said in the official post-match conference.

Buckingham revealed that the players are keeping their foot on the ground and aren’t getting carried away.

“Very happy with what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We don’t get carried away. I’ve just been in the changing room. And it’s the same as every game that we’ve played so far. It’s you know, it’s a job well done. But we know now we have some time before the next match against Jamshedpur FC. The players are very humble and very professional. And that’s gonna be so important. Again, making sure we refocus as we will do now, as we get ready for Jamshedpur FC.” Buckingham added.

Despite ticking almost all the right boxes, Buckingham feels there is still room for improvement in the upcoming matches of the tournament.

“There’s always lots to work on. I won’t share what it is with you because I don’t want to give anything away for the next five matches. So there’s always room for improvement everywhere. Even tonight in the second half I thought we needed to create more opportunities as much as giving minutes to the players who deserve them. But there are different things we need to make sure that we continue doing to stay on top of teams when we get the chance.” Buckingham concluded.

Mumbai City FC has already qualified for the playoff stages.