"It is 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," Sunil Chhetri
Agencies
Mumbai
Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri is a good reader of the game. His love for the game doesn't stop him from making his point loud and clear. On Sunday, the Mumbai City striker had his share of glory in ensuring that table-topper FC Goa were beaten 2-0 at the DY Patil Stadium.
In the process Mumbai City moved to sixth place on the ISL table. The win saw them leapfrog NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters and are only three points adrift of the league leaders.
On an evening when Mumbai dominated the proceedings against Zico's outfit, Sunil Chhetri was instrumental in attack yet again. He has now scored three goals in the last two matches, but believes his happiness lies in the success of the franchise.
"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," Chhetri was quoted as saying to a football website.
"Thankfully the team stuck together; we always knew we were going to get chances with the kind of team we have attacking wise. 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," he added.
Two wins in as many games for the Ranbir Kapoor co-owned franchise and their performances have certainly raised the expectations for the Mumbai faithful.
"Yes (the team is clicking well), touchwood. 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. 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," explained Chhetri.
Mumbai City FC have now not conceded a single goal in their last two matches. In fact along with FC Pune City and Delhi Dynamos, Mumbai now have let in the lowest goals (5) this season.
"It is 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 concluded.
