AGENCIES
NEW DELHI
The last time Zico had faced off with Roberto Carlos on the pitch, the master's team had come up with a one-sided 2-0 victory over his student's wards. On Sunday, however this will not only be the opportunity for Carlos “ who had claimed Zico is like a father, a teacher to him “ to settle the scores but also to fight it out for a top spot finish in the concluding league clash of the Indian Super League in Delhi.
FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos are placed second and third respectively on the ISL table with 22 points each but FC Goa are ahead with a better goal difference. The teams will eye the top spot but having already qualified for the semi-finals, the focus will be on preserving their best players for bigger challenges ahead.
“In our way of thinking, we will field the best players available, although a clear picture will emerge only after the (final) training session. Since the tournament is very short, we will want the best players not to get injured ahead of the semi-finals,” FC Goa assistant coach Fernando Vannucci said during the pre-match media briefing.
The assistant coach, however, made it clear that the club had achieved its initial target of making it to the play-offs and now the competition would get even tougher. “We are now looking to be first or second so that we can have the advantage of playing the second game at home. In a tournament like the ISL which is so well balanced, we cannot choose any opponent. Every opponent is good and we respect all of them. You must not forget that last year, the final was played between the third and fourth placed teams,” said Vannucci.
FC Goa will miss the services of Brazilian midfielder Leo Moura who picked up his fourth booking in the last game and remains suspended for the match. Delhi Dynamos player-manager Carlos has already made it clear that he wants players fresh for the semi-final battles. He rested Robin Singh and Seminlen Doungel after achieving qualification for the game against Kerala Blasters and looks set to continue with providing rest to some more players in the final league game.
“Against Goa, probably I won’t play (Florent) Malouda, Chicao, probably won’t use (Adil) Nabi, and I want some players to take a rest for the next phase,” Carlos had said earlier after the game against Kerala Blasters.
Delhi Dynamos lost to FC Goa in their opening game away in Goa 0-2 but since then the team has made rapid progress, never really falling out of the top four. “Step by step, the team is improving. For the next phase of the league, they will be better because they have spent so much time together. They know each other very well now and that should help them in the next phase,” said the Brazilian.
QUOTE
We are now looking to be first or second so that we can have the advantage of playing the second game at home. In a tournament like the ISL which is so well balanced, we cannot choose any opponent. Every opponent is good and we respect all of them,"
Fernando Vannucci,
FC Goa assistant coach
