THE GOAN NETWORK
Panaji
FC Goa player Aakash Sangwan openly addressed the team’s struggles in their first two matches of the season. He highlighted a sense of collective accountability among the players, stating, “Yes, I believe we all know that we needEd to do way better than we did in the last two games. The players are taking accountability for it. They know that we’ve lagged in many aspects of the game, including myself. But the good thing is that no one is pointing fingers at each other. Everyone knows that if we all do our best, we can turn it around.”
When asked about the reasons behind FC Goa's lackluster performance, Sangwan acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “It’s a hard question because many things could go wrong. At the start, maybe we weren’t focused enough or took it easy. I can’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong, but I feel we have learned from it. In training, it shows that everyone is now focused and giving their best. Hopefully, we’ll show that on the pitch,” he said.
Sangwan, who joined FC Goa after a stint with Chennaiyin FC, spoke about the significant differences between his previous club and his current team. “I don’t think about the national team when I’m playing for Goa. My focus is on learning what the coach wants and how the team plays. It’s about improving day by day,” he explained.
Coach Manolo, who also manages the Indian national team, has placed significant trust in Sangwan. When asked about his aspirations for the national team, Sangwan remarked, “If the opportunity comes, I hope it’s not due to any bias. I believe it won’t be because I play for FC Goa. My goal is to perform well here first.”
Reflecting on his move to FC Goa, Sangwan expressed enthusiasm for the club's ambitions. “Last season at Chennaiyin FC was good, but my motive for moving to Goa was to play for a team that competes for the title every year. That’s the feeling in the group here; if you want to achieve good results in Goa, it’s essential to maintain high standards,” he noted.
Sangwan also discussed the differences in training between Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa under Coach Manolo. “Since day one, I’ve been learning a lot. Initially, I struggled to adapt because the playing style at Chennaiyin was different. FC Goa focuses more on technical details, which took some time for me to grasp, but I’m getting there,” he shared.
On the football culture in Goa, he remarked, “The city, its culture, and the footballing spirit drew me here. Every time I came to Goa, I noticed the passion for FC Goa. You see stickers everywhere; it shows that football is a major part of life here.”
Looking ahead to their upcoming match against East Bengal, who are also facing challenges this season, Sangwan is focused on preparation rather than the opponent's strengths. “I prepare myself the same way for every match. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. My focus is on what we have to do as a team. If I do my part right, we’ll be okay,” he affirmed.
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Coach Manolo on Aakash Sangwan.
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marques on Aakash Sangwan: "Aakash is focused and committed. I can see his dedication, and he is an important player for our team." He mentioned that Aakash faced challenges at the start of preseason because the playing style under his former coach, Owen Coyle, was very different from Marquez’s approach. "This kind of adjustment takes time," he explained.
He’s very clever and learns quickly. His performances improved game by game, especially in the Bandodkar Cup." Even though the team hasn’t played well in the last two matches, Marquez highlighted Aakash’s skills saying, "He made a great cross that led to Armando Sadiku’s goal." He added, "Everyone feels that Aakash will be and is a key player for FC Goa."
