Manolo Marquez: It's true I have multiple offers from Indian clubs

The Hyderabad FC boss also criticized ISL's competition structure.

A penalty miss each from Javier Siverio and Bartholomew Ogbeche helped ATK Mohun Bagan beat Hyderabad FC to trudge into the grand finale of the ISL 2022-23 campaign. While it was a severely tactical contest, with each side denying the opponents an inch of space, ATK Mohun Bagan emerged as the winners, perhaps deservingly. Manolo Marquez's side kept the game stalemate till the end of 120 minutes, but when it's a tie-breaker, you never know which team will bag the victory.

Assessment of the game

Hyderabad FC, who had netted 36 goals in the 20 league stage matches, failed to get on to the scoresheet for even once in the playoffs. Manolo Marquez said in the post-match press conference:

“In the first leg, I think it was more similar than this. In that game, both teams wanted to play to decide the game in the second leg. We started the game well today, but they finished the game better in 90 minutes. Both teams were tired in the extra-time. They were better in penalties, they shot better penalties and we shot two bad penalties. One was bad luck, as it struck the post.

He added, "We lost, but congratulations to them for qualifying for the final. I also congratulate our team because we’re a team that started four years ago (inception) and we’re fighting with the big teams. We finished second in league stages, eight more than this team. Hats off to my players.”

Manolo Marquez criticizes the league

The Hyderabad FC mentor had previously asserted that he doesn't like the structure in which the competition is set. He criticized the same again after the loss to ATK Mohun Bagan.

"I don’t like the press in India. Because when you say something bad, they don’t publish that. You must remember that the first legs had to be played in Mumbai and Hyderabad, not in Kolkata or Bengaluru. It’s a complete disaster to play in this stadium in the second leg. Imagine if that was the opposite. Yesterday, it was the same too. That is the reality. This is a nonsense to have to play like this.

"I’m opposing on a lot of things. I don’t like playoffs. If there is a league championship, then that is it. If you play playoffs, the Super Cup is better. If you play Basketball and Cricket, there are playoffs and this is perfect. If you are a champion in a league, that means you are the best team. You don’t need playoffs. Playoffs or knockouts are for competitions like Super Cup or AFC Cup or AFC Champions League. This is a knockout-based cup. And then we have six teams in the playoffs, only five are out of the playoffs. That’s a nonsensical. But that’s not an excuse.”

Future plans for the tactician

Manolo Marquez's contract at Hyderabad FC runs out at the end of this season. When asked about his future, the mentor quipped, “This isn’t the moment to answer this question. It’s better not to say anything, because it is dangerous. I’ll know what I will do in the moment. I would like to continue at Hyderabad earlier this season. But you have to ask the club. I don’t think they’re in the same way.

It’s true I have multiple offers from clubs in India. I think that if I know the answer, I won’t tell it in public today because today is a bad moment for our team. Big congratulations to our players because to go three seasons to fight for the top of the table is brilliant.”