Goa : After registering a late equalizer against ATK Mohun Bagan in their last match, FC Goa to face Kerala Blasters FC at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Saturday. Both the team has been in a fine form and Goa coach Juan Ferrando, spoke about their chances and the insights to this match in the pre match press conference.
When the coach was asked about the recent performance and the way the team has managed to win against Jamshedpur FC and almost won the ATKMB match, would Goa look for top two positions, to this coach Juan said, ” Our first priority is Kerala at this moment, yes we want to win. We want to be at the first position, but we would like to take it game by game. It’s important to control your emotions and feelings so that we can focus in every other match.”
The Gaurs have earned 10 points from loosing position, which certainly shows the team has got some character within themselves, when asked about team’s mentality on this, coach Juan said, ” We play as a team, we are professionals. Whenever the first 11 is picked the players know one thing for sure. Win, loss or draw the most important thing is to fight till the end, that’s what comes out in the match.”
Goa to face Kerala Blasters on Saturday. The Kerala team has improved from what they were in the first half of the season, the team has been playing some fearless football under coach Kibu Vicuna, so when asked about the insight to the match, coach Juan said, ” I would say, honestly it’s a very difficult game. Kerala has improved themselves pretty well in their last two match. They had a single plan in the first leg now they play with two plans and which can be dangerous. They have got some really good players and has the knack of playing good football, just like us, so I hope for a beautiful game on Saturday.”
Ishan Panditia has been a pawn for Goa, as he has been the super-sub for them with two goals from the bench in matches where the team was down by a goal. So when asked about why he isn’t starting in the first 11, coach Juan said, ” Devendra, Ishan these are young players. They are to be preserved and protected for greater good. Goa is a club who loves to work with young players, but these players they have to improve a lot. One or two goals doesn’t make everything for this boys, there too many points in football to remember, so they are in a process of learning. They need time and that is more important for their future.”
Igor Angulo has been the top scorer in the ISL 7, till now and he hasn’t been featured in their last two games as we have witnessed Jorge Ortiz upfront, so when asked about, Angulo’s condition coach Juan said this, ” Igor has been feeling weak after the last match he had played. He had a stomach bug, so we had to change the tactics in our last two matches. In the last match he wasn’t 100%, so we decided to keep him on the bench as a substitute. This week he has been training hard, that’s very important as every player from the squad is very important for us.”
Lastly, when asked about Ortiz and his performance in the ISL, as he has been one of the best foreigners to play in this league this season, so coach Juan said this, ” Yeah it’s necessary to run a lot, it’s necessary to find open spaces. Ortiz understands the mentality and philosophy of the team. He knows the best moment to create space and also helping the team in building the dominance also helping the team to attack. He certainly has been helpful for the side and surely will improve from the last matches.”
