Goa: After an unfortunate loss against ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa will be facing Chennaiyin FC on Saturday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Coach Juan Ferrando always believed in the present and in working hard on the pitch to get results
“In football, it’s about 90 minutes to control the match. In defence or in the offense. Lucky or unlucky, I don’t prefer to say it. If we are working hard we will surely get results at the end of the season. But yes about the refereeing decisions we can surely say and can discuss it. But no not lucky or unlucky I believe in working and getting results from the pitch,” Ferrando.
Goa didn’t had the best start to their season. After six matches they have won twice, drew twice and lost twice. They even awarded unfortunate penalties against Mumbai City FC and ATKMB. “See our first preference is victory. But we lost two matches very, unfortunately. But we try to keep and maintain a balance in the team between youth and experience. Certainly giving away penalties in the late stage is very unfortunate and we are working on it,” he added.
“We aren’t happy at all with the fact of conceding a penalty in the late stage of the match. But we have to think it before, to not to concede one, not after. In the match against Mumbai we had the lion’s share of position but just lost it once and bang they scored from a penalty. We are certainly working on it,” the Spanish said.
There is very little time in between the matches this year. And in this tight schedule, it’s important to motivate the players in quick time. Asked about how he motivates his side to chin up, Ferrando said, “Yeah certainly we have only 48 hours in between to prepare for our next game, but yes we are all professionals we know the schedule will be tight. This is football you win or lose in a certain match but need to forget it soon and indulge all your energy in the next game. That’s what we have been doing for his tight schedule.”
The schedule has been a bit hectic this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Of course I want more time after every match but it is impossible to change. We just played our last game on Wednesday and I need my players to have some rest and recover from the minor injuries they had from that match. Even I can make a plan B for the team but there is no time. From the part of my job I feel sad but yeah no excuses this is the league and have to go on with it as this and I accept it,” he added.
Chennaiyin has been going through a bad patch this season and the way Goa has been playing they have a sure chance. “We try to maintain a balance between youth and experience. We try to dominate the game but missed out against ATKMB in our last match. We will try to play the way we have been doing in our last games and let’s hope for the best,” he said.
He was also candid on being asked what improvements need to be done irrespective of the performance. “Certainly we need a lot of improvement. Every player has been working hard. And that’s what is required in football in every match. We have very little time in between matches. But am happy for my players as they have been working hard before and after every match to prove themselves,” Ferrando concluded.
