Goa: After back-to-back last-minute victories against Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC in their previous two encounters, FC Goa would be looking for their third win on the trot when they take on ISL newbies SC East Bengal on Wednesday (January 6).
FC Goa coach Juan Ferrando is aware of the opposition who have just registered their maiden win of the tournament (3-1 against Odisha FC) and the Spaniard is wary of the rejuvenated Red and Golds, who he thinks will come hard at them on Wednesday.
“Yes, I know they are happy from what they were three weeks back. With a 3-1 victory and the introduction of new players has brought confidence to their side. But yeah we are focused to face them. Our prime target is always three points,” Ferrando told reporters in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday (January 5).
The Gaurs have been a confident side in recent times and looked quite threatening by the way they played in the last two matches. Asked about the mood in the dressing room ahead of the match, he said, “You know this is a very strange league. Every match, every team is totally different. More or less we have one plan but more or less it’s necessary to change the plan. But sadly this thing doesn’t work in some matches.”
“We are happy that we have secured last-minute victories in our last two matches. But it will not happen in every other game. We have to make sure we finish the match before 90 minutes,” Ferrando added. East Bengal under Robbie Fowler has been playing with a high defensive line.
Ferrando believes that the opposition will be a much more confident entity on Wednesday. “See if it was two weeks back I would have answered something different. As the team was losing in every match and there were lot of changes in the side.
“The right-backs and left-backs were not settled. But now with a victory on their bag they will be happy and confident facing us. They won’t be afraid to face our attack. We need to play our natural game and complete our duty,” he said.
Goa is the only side in the ISL with six foreigners and Ferrando said the club has no plans to trade any player in the January transfer window. “There is two targets. Firstly qualify for the play-off and the second target is to back the young players like Gama, Ishan, Preston. Yes talking about the foreign player I would say when we have a good young talent why need new players?
“All the foreigners we have two sets of work one is to play for Goa, and other to teach these young Indian boys with their vast experience. It’s very important for any foreigner whom we sign next season must have this courage as it’s not about coming to India, playing for Goa and going away but to show the character and courage for these young boys, that’s what makes a team,” he concluded
