With the chances of his team qualifying for the semi-finals looking extremely bleak, Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid today said even Einstein would have a problem figuring out how his team will make it to the play-offs.
"Mathematically, I don't think Einstein can work this one out, so I am not going to even try. We just have to go out there and try and win a football match. I leave it to you and Einstein to sort out the mathematics. I will just try and simplify as it comes and try and win the football match with as many goals as we can," Reid said in jest, on the eve of his side's match against Atletico de Kolkata.
With 12 points in as many games, Mumbai find themselves in the last position in the eight-team league.
They virtually have no chance of qualifying apart from a theoretical chance. The Ranbir Kapoor-owned side have to win their two games in addition to relying on other teams' performances to see them through to the semis.
The former Thailand coach said he wished he was in his counterpart Antonio Habas' shoes as Atletico de Kolkata are placed third in the league table and a win or a draw here would assure them a semi-final berth.
"I wish I was in their position. They are in a better position than us because we have got to go out there and I am not going to go on about mathematics, we have got to go out there with professional pride and try to win a football match.
"Certainly, I would love to be going into the game, just needing one point to get through," he said.
The former Manchester City coach said they want to put up a good show for the fans after a string of disappointing results.
"We had a disappointing run of results. It has been a brilliant league even though I have been disappointed recently with the results. We want to go out there and give our fans something to cheer about, because they haven't had much recently," the Englishman said.
