Next two home games are crucial for FC Goa: Manolo

Panaji

FC Goa Coach Manolo Marquez expressed confidence in his team’s ability to turn their season around. When asked if FC Goa could secure a victory against Bengaluru, he replied, "Yes."

Marquez highlighted the importance of the next two home games, especially since FC Goa has yet to win at home this season. "All games are important. The next game is the most important," he said. He acknowledged that winning these matches before the international break is crucial, but emphasized the need for continued improvement beyond that. "Even if we win both games, we need to keep pushing. Turning around this situation is the most difficult part of football, but I believe we will do it and have a good season," he added.

The coach expressed his confidence in the team’s performance this season compared to last. "We are playing better than last season. Last year, we often won 1-0, but now we are creating more chances, even if we aren’t always consistent," he explained. He noted that while FC Goa has been more aggressive in attack, their defensive struggles have led to conceding too many goals.

Discussing recent performances, Marquez said, "In the last few games, we’ve created chances even when losing. The only game where we played really poorly was against Mohamedan SC. In other matches, we’ve managed the game better than our opponents, even if not by a large margin." He recalled a recent match against NorthEast United where they lost after leading, underscoring the need for greater consistency.

On injury updates, Marquez confirmed that Borja Herrera and Rowllin Borges will miss the game against Bengaluru and the following match against Punjab FC. However, he stressed that the team must adapt regardless of who is available. "It’s not just about one player. The team is performing well overall. It’s about building consistency," he stated.

Marquez confirmed that Sandesh Jhingan will be available for the match against Bengaluru FC, which is a positive for the squad. He also reflected on past decisions made during matches, indicating that in-game situations can complicate choices for substitutions.

Regarding Bengaluru FC, Marquez recognized their strong start to the season and acknowledged that they will likely be favorites going into the game. "They have good players, including many from the national team," he said. However, he also pointed out that FC Goa is a strong team in its own right, emphasizing that Indian players from Bengaluru FC are among the league's top scorers, a rarity in the ISL where foreign players often dominate the scoring charts.

"This is a good moment for us to play against a strong team like Bengaluru," he remarked. "We need to show that we can compete with the best. It will be a good game, and I believe our fans will enjoy it."