With Mumbai City is battling for a top-four place, Costa believes that all teams must have something to play till the end of the season.
Mumbai City head coach Jorge Costa is confident of leading his side past Chennaiyin FC on Friday to be eligible for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2019-20 play-offs.
The Islanders returned points from FC Goa in their final outing where a win could have sealed a top-four spot.
After that loss and coming to their final fixture of the regular season, the Portuguese said,”I told the players that nothing changes. We did not know what could happen in Chennaiyin’s next match (until) they conquer ATK, (but) the fantastic thing is that tomorrow (Friday) game is dependent on us.
“If we win it, we’ll be within the top four for sure. So now, I’m happy. I have 90-to-95 moments to acquire one (this) game and I am positive that we will do it. We’re doing our best every day hoping that finally we can say that we’re in the top four.”
Chennaiyin have scored 24 of the 29 goals in the second half of this season and since Owen Coyle has taken over the reins, the group has managed to perform well on the field.
“Chennaiyin, in the past couple of games, is not the same team from the start of the season. Especially after changing the trainer (Coyle), they shifted some players and the way they play, they do very well. The players understand what we have to do, but we must work together and perform as a team,” Costa maintained.
FC Goa’s 5-0 against Jamshedpur on Wednesday has made the Goans the first Indian side to make it to the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League group point. In terms of the format of this season, the Mumbai City trainer had a couple of thoughts to share.
“Let me congratulate Goa for winning the regular season,” he said. “We could be here for two-to-three hours talking about the good things and the bad (about the arrangement ) and what in my view should change from the ISL.
“We’ve Mumbai, Chennai and Odisha fighting for top four but a number of those teams will play against several groups that have nothing to lose, and this is bad. I think that they must find a means for all of the teams before the last day to have something to fight for,” the 48-year-old suggested.
