Fatorda
FC Goa's head coach, Manolo Marquez, expressed his frustration after his team’s 2-1 defeat to Jamshedpur FC in their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season opener on Tuesday.
Marquez criticized his team’s performance, stating that aside from the first 20 minutes, they did not play well throughout the match. He was particularly disappointed with the foreigners on the team, who he felt were not performing to their potential and not supporting the Indian players effectively.
“This is the angriest I have been in my five years in India,” Marquez said. “We cannot accept a performance like today’s from our team. The foreigners were not playing but instead they were walking, if they play their own game without connecting with the Indian players, it causes problems.”
He acknowledged that there were moments of individual brilliance but felt the team lacked cohesion overall. Marquez was especially critical of the team’s lack of connectivity, mentioning that the right and left flanks were not effectively utilized.
Marquez also pointed out that although some players showed effort, such as Bryson, their overall performance was poor. Despite this, he believes the team can improve. He referred to past experiences, noting that FC Goa has previously bounced back well after a loss.
Looking ahead, Marquez emphasized the need for the team to demonstrate character and react positively to this setback. The next match is scheduled in four days, giving the team a short turnaround to address the issues.
Regarding a controversial penalty awarded to Jamshedpur FC, Marquez stated that while there was minimal contact, he believed it was a judgment call by the referee. He noted that the penalty decision was not the reason for the defeat, but rather the team’s overall poor performance.
