Kolkata: FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando has expressed his discontent with the selection of match venues in the ongoing Durand Cup but believes the organising committee will learn from their mistakes in the future.
Goa, who remained unbeaten during the group stages, were scheduled to Delhi FC in the quarterfinals at the Mohun Bagan ground but incessant rains have made it impossible to play. However, it was after FC Goa team management decided not to play at the Mohun Bagan ground and put the matter to the organising committee for the match to be shifted.
“When we decided to come here for Kolkata, to participate in Durand Cup, we were very happy thinking it is a very prestigious tournament. But day by day we know about the real situation, about the pitch and the condition,” Ferrando said during the pre-match press conference.
“But in this case, it is only possible to change a lot of points. It is now necessary to tell the match committee and also it is necessary to explain to improve because in future, sure, some teams of ISL want to participate in Durand Cup and it is very important to not repeat the same mistakes,” he added.
FC Goa director of football, Ravi Puskur also echoed similar sentiments.
“We are extremely concerned about the condition of the training or rather the match venue for tomorrow, to the point me and Juan made a visit the morning, to see the condition of the ground. We are pretty much aghast with the condition that we found,” said Puskur.
“The pitch is waterlogged, I don’t see how it is possible for a match to happen there tomorrow. We pointed it out to the organising committee of the Durand Cup. Thankfully they have seen the sense and agreed that the match could not be played there.”
The tournament organising committee were quick to take action and eventually shifted the quarterfinal encounter to Kalyani Stadium on Friday. Despite all the off-field chaos, Ferrando is focussing on the match against Delhi and wants to improve step-by-step.
“Ofccourse for us, we are here, our focus is to work and then step by step to improve as a team. As for the pitch I hope it changes, it is not good for a professional team to play here,” he said.
“Our focus is on the game against Delhi. To prepare good plan of course, to prepare for the game as they are a difficult opponent,” added Ferrando. The Spaniard is known an organised tactician and admitted he is working keenly on the preparations ahead of the ISL 2021-22.
“For us, the last three games are past. Of course, we learn about some details. But forgetting it, our focus is on tomorrow. We are working with different plans, we are working with foreign players, of course, we have to improve on a lot of points. This is our target. This is the time to work step by step. I am happy about some details, about some young players.”
