ISL 2017/18: 'Time to plan for Super Cup,' says Mumbai City coach Guimaraes

Mumbai City FC were looking to end their Indian Super League season on a positive note with a win, but couldn't quite manage it as they went down 1-0 to Chennaiyin FC on Saturday evening.

Already out of the playoff contention, the semifinalists from last year were playing for pride but saw a Rene Mihelic penalty sink them in this encounter in Chennai.

After conceding, the visitors did rally in an attempt to get back in the game, but a spirited performance from Chennaiyin saw them keep Mumbai City out. Mumbai also managed to get the ball in the back of the net in the final minute of the game, but it was ruled out for offside.

Speaking after the game, their Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes admitted it was difficult to rally the troops once they lost to the Delhi Dynamos which ended their qualification hopes, especially after they had been raised with some stirring performances previously.

"It was difficult because the way we got our two consecutive wins, after beating Kolkata and NorthEast, it got all the players excited", said Guimaraes. "After we lost in Delhi, of course, it was not easy to get reorganized. What made the difference today, I think, was an error by us from which they got the situation where they scored. That's it, nothing more to say about that."

While their ISL campaign may have ended on a disappointing note, the Mumbai City said he's now looking forward to build for the upcoming season as well as the upcoming cup competition.

"In two seasons that I've been here, I think we have established our franchise very well. Unfortunately this season, we didn't have the stability in our performance, so that hurt us. But I'm very sure that from now, the Mumbai City organization will start to plan for what's next and obviously we want to do well in the Super Cup to complete the season", concluded a visibly disappointed Guimaraes.