Goa: James Donachie has played some good football and been a wall in FC Goa defence in this year’s Indian Super League. The loanee from A-League side Newcastle Jets believes that the Gaurs have been playing some attractive football and hopes to put on a better performance in the upcoming matches.
“I think we have been playing some good football. These teams (Mumbai City FC, ATKMB) haven’t scored goals against us in open play rather in a penalty,” Donachie said in a pre-match press conference ahead of their game against Chennaiyin FC on Saturday (December 19).
“We have played some attractive football. With the highest no.of chances created in the league so far, the AtKMB and the Mumbai game was frustrating for us as we conceded late penalties against them. But yeah we are with the top teams and hoping for something good in upcoming matches.”
Donachie has formed a solid pair with Ivan Gonzalez in the Gaurs central defence. In the match against ATKMB when Ivan was replaced and Aibanbha Dohling came in and conceded a penalty the team eventually lost the match. As an experienced defender, the 27-year-old has a message for the youngsters.
“See we don’t have much time in-between to go through these small things. As we have matches every two to three days in a week or so. If it was a seven-day gap between two matches then we had a whole week to think about it and discuss. Sadly we don’t have that opportunity,” he said.
He added, “As I have said before if ATKMB scored the goal from an open play we would have thought about it. Because there were chances where we could have got a penalty, so these things will happen we have to move on with these.”
Asked about his impressions on ISL comparing it with football in Australia, he said, “Every league is different. You have to adjust to the weather conditions. It’s quite hot compared to Australia. There are so many games every two days, so you have to prepare your body according to that. You have to adapt accordingly and the main thing is winning and we are focused on that as a team.”
