Mumbai City FC forward and India captain Sunil Chhetri was extremely pleased with the efforts of his side after they defeated FC Goa in match No. 21 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2015, 2-0.
Chhetri emphasised the fact that it is really important for a team to maintain clean sheets in order to win, be it the ISL or any other tournament.
Chhetri, who has three goals in his bag in this edition of the tournament, is happy with the fact that every player contributed to the team's victory.
"I am very happy with the win, to be very honest. The last game (against Delhi Dynamos) when we checked (the standings), we were eighth. Today when we checked we were eighth again and there is a lot of pressure. Thankfully the team stuck together; we always knew we were going to get chances with the kind of team we have attacking wise," Chhetri in his post-match interview.
"We are just coming back defending well as a team, which we did in both the matches and that is what we are going to continue. If we can defend well as a team and make it difficult for the other team by maintaining the shape, there will always be chances for us with kind of players we have. It is also very, very important (to keep clean sheets). Teams who win tournaments, keep clean-sheets and it is as simple as that. You win games 6-0, 7-0, 5-0, 4-0 and win tournaments. You win when you have no goals against you, it is as simple as that," he added.
Mumbai City FC were languishing at the bottom of the points table of ISL 2015 ahead of their encounter against the table toppers FC Goa. But now they have moved two positions up from the bottom to occupy the sixth place, behind reigning champions Atletico de Kolkata.
Chhetri is hopeful that they can take this momentum forward and win more games in the near future so that they move up the points table, increasing their chances of making it to the final four of the ISL 2015.
"I hope we can continue that. What happens is once you are solid as a unit and it is difficult to break you, it gives momentum and you do well attacking wise. In the same way if you keep getting shots on target against you and the team is dominating against you, you lose your power," Chhetri said.
"You know what I mean. You lose your concentration, you start fighting against each other and all these things happen. Thankfully we were solid at the back and we dominated the midfield and then you get a lot of chances. You are more confident," he added.
