Goa: FC Goa after their unfortunate draw against Kerala Blasters, would face SC East Bengal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, on Friday. Sitting on the third position Goa would be looking to win against the Red and Gold Brigade to shorten the gap with their nearest rival ATK Mohun Bagan. In the pre match press conference Assistant coach Clifford Miranda spoke about their plans to achieve it.
East Bengal has been playing some good football despite of their position in the league, so before facing them Goa would miss Ivan Gonzalez due to suspension and Brandon Fernandes due to injury, when asked about their chances, assistant coach Miranda said, ” This game is important as any other game, we will play the same way which we have played till the 13th game. Yeah players like Ivan and Brandon will not be available for the match, but we have a squad and if some players aren’t available players from the squad will stand up to fill their gaps.”
Indian international Adil Khan came with Miranda today in the press conference, he has joined Goa on loan from Hyderabad FC on this January transfer, when asked about his potential and what x factor he can bring to the Gaur side, Miranda said this, ” See anyone who comes and welcomes the team is a welcome sign. There is no question about Adil’s quality as he has been a part of the national team. He has joined our team to improve our team. We will help him and he will help us that’s how the things should be.”
In the last match against East Bengal, Bright Enobakhare scored a wonder goal against the Gaurs, so when asked about any different plans stop him, Miranda said, ” Yeah he did score a wonder goal. He is a good player there is no doubt about it. He has improved East Bengal since his arrival, but we don’t have the plan to stop one player if we start concentrating on one player there are other nine outfield players who can hurt us, we will play the way we play, there so special plans for any player. We have played the similar manner in the last 13 match, so we will not change our style of play for one single player, man-mark is not the way Goa plays.”
Goa has been an unbeaten side in their last six matches, so when asked about what went right in their last six matches, Miranda said, ” The most important thing about any team is adaptation. Adapting to the weather, ground, new coach and it certainly takes time. Step by step we are moving towards our objective, moving towards the way the coach wants to play and he is in the right direction. When the season begun we didn’t had the best of the start as we had a new team and also a new coach. It took time to process this whole thing and to play as a team.”
