Panaji
Coach Manolo responded to the question about the upcoming match, saying, "The game tomorrow? We don't know." He expressed his opinion that playing in Hyderabad seems easy at the moment because there are no consequences if they lose. He mentioned the team's celebratory mood after certain matches, because If they (Hyderabad FC) draw against North East, they celebrate with a party. If they win against Chennaiyin, you can imagine what they did. It's not my Hyderabad. However, he acknowledged that the current Hyderabad FC is not the same as before, expressing nostalgia for past players and staff. He noted the absence of familiar faces on the bench and reflected on the team's decline since their previous successes in the league. Manolo hinted at underlying issues within the club, suggesting that something might not be working correctly.
Coach also expressed his admiration for past legends of Hyderabad FC like Kattimani and Joao, along with young players like Abdul Raheeb and Mark Zothanpuia who were part of his team. However, he lamented the absence of key players and staff from the current Hyderabad FC setup. He highlighted his unfamiliarity with most individuals on the current bench, indicating a significant change since his time with the team. Reflecting on Hyderabad FC's recent struggles compared to their previous competitive performances, Manolo suggested that something may not be functioning correctly within the club.
"I've mentioned in the past how difficult it is to see the current state of the team. We had incredible seasons with players like Nimm and Yasir. But now, things have changed. After our match in Hyderabad in February, we discussed this. It's easy to destroy what's been built, especially with young players. Their main goal is to stay in the ISL next season. Some of them show promise, making Hyderabad a dangerous team. Let's see what happens," stated the coach.
"Practically the other day against Mumbai, they created one chance in the minute one. In Chennai, they won, but it was a game that could have easily ended 4-4. This team, even with only João as a foreigner, remains competitive. They have good players, but it's not the Hyderabad I remember," he added.
