ISL: Mumbai City FC coach Bruzon quits after ‘spat’ with Anelka
Days after claiming that all is well in the Mumbai City backroom, assistant coach Oscar Bruzon has left the club with immediate effect. While the official version was ‘differences in football philosophy’, it has been reliably learnt that Bruzon had a fallout with Mumbai’s player-manager Nicolas Anelka, with the duo sharing a fractured relationship for quite some time.
However, the trigger right now was Bruzon’s comments in the pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Delhi Dynamos last week. Bruzon was asked to analyse Anelka’s performance in the previous match, however, he appeared to have misheard the question and replied: “There was a lot of noise about Nicolas playing and managing. We are all united. All the decisions he is taking are right. He is our leader, our inspiration.”
His unwarranted comment about the unity within the team did not go well with Anelka, who called for a meeting the following day. Bruzon left the team immediately and was not even present on the match during the match against Delhi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sources said they nearly came to blows during the meeting but Mumbai CEO Indranil Blah vehemently denied it. “There was a meeting between the two where they sat together to work things out. Eventually they mutually decided that it best for the team that Oscar step down,” Blah said. “It was a peaceful meeting, the reports of a argument are completely baseless.”
Bruzon is the second member of the Mumbai City set-up who has left after a tiff with Anelka. At the start of the season, their key playmaker Andre Moritz left the team after a spat with the Frenchman. Blah assured the players were happy with Anelka at the helm, even though many say he does not interact much with them and largely keeps to himself. Bruzon was a bridge between the players and their manager. However, it is believed that he and Anelka had opposite philosophies and their relationship deteriorated as the season progressed. Blah denied that Anelka did not interact much, insisting that he was always approachable. “It’s not that he talks only when he wants to, he talks when needed. At the same time he’s made sure he is open and approachable to all players. He’s actually quite vocal when he’s not playing and in every huddle ahead of a match, he’s the only one talking. So he does have a good rapport with the players,” he added.
Former Mumbai FC player Alex Ambrose, who is a part of Mumbai City’s support staff, will replace Bruzon as the assistant coach. Despite their backroom troubles, Mumbai are fourth in the eight-team tournament, on course to make the cut for the semifinals.
Mutu saves Pune’s blushes
Adrian Mutu slammed a left-footed volley into the net in the last minute of the game to help hosts FC Pune City secure a thrilling 2-2 draw against FC Goa in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash, at Balewadi Sports Complex on Sunday. Eugenson Lyngdoh had found the net in the 32nd minute for the hosts but Rafael Coelho Luiz (34) and Jonatan Lucca (44) brought FC Goa back into the game. Mutu (90+4’) scored the late equaliser to salvage a point for Pune City.
