Josep Gombau: Wasn't a game where we were comfortable on the pitch

The Odisha FC head coach also expressed his satisfaction regarding the players.

Odisha FC secured a 3-1 win over struggling NorthEast United in their recent Indian Super League (ISL 2022-23) fixture at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. Josep Gombau’s men jump to fifth place in the league table as a result of the win that takes them closer to the playoffs.

As it stands, OFC needs only one more point to confirm their playoff berth. The win against NorthEast United puts them in a strong position where avoiding defeat against Jamshedpur FC in the last league fixture will ensure qualification into the playoffs.

Josep Gombau talked to the media after the win and reiterated the fact that the job is not finished yet. Here are the excerpts:

The task is not over yet

Josep Gombau expressed delight after winning the match against NorthEast United. However, he expects his players to remain focused as the race for playoffs qualification is not over yet. He said, “We are happy to get the three points. It was a nice game that was difficult to win. The opposition did well and made it difficult for us. We had this aim of finishing in the top-six, which is not complete yet. We still need one point. I hope that we can get it in the next game at home.”

“All the players worked hard and did well. It was not a game where we were comfortable on the field. We did not have the ball as much as we wanted, especially in the first half. When you play for something like the top-six, it is more difficult to have this extra pressure and the players have to deal with it,” he added.

Happy with the players

The head coach expressed his relief at having a team that is ready to deliver whenever required. Speaking about the depth of his squad and if he was happy with his players, Gombau said, “This is something that makes us stronger, to have this participation of a lot of players…everybody did well and worked hard. I am satisfied with the work of the players.”

A big opportunity

Odisha FC took a huge step towards ensuring a top-six finish in the ongoing season. The club still needs one point to confirm their ISL playoffs qualification. Brimming with confidence, Josep Gombau talked about going for the win in the last game of the season. He said, “We are a humble club. We have never been in the playoffs. It is a big opportunity for us. We will put all our effort and concentration to get this point. We will play for three points. We have a responsibility, as players and coaches, to do a good job and qualify.”