Difficult to enter in the defense of this team: FC Goa boss Manolo Marquez on Jamshedpur FC

Manolo Marquez shed light on how challenging it will be to handle Super Cup if held in January.

FC Goa is set to face off against Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season on 27th of November at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, returning home after a 51-day absence. As of now the Gaurs have already bagged 13 points from five matches, securing four wins and one draw.

The Men of Steel, on the other hand, are still looking to get back to winning ways after winning only one of six ISL matches this season. From here on, both clubs will concentrate on picking up three points, with Jamshedpur FC aiming for a significant victory away from home and FC Goa hoping to win at their stronghold.

Manolo Marquez and Odei Onaindia spoke to the media at the pre-match press conference. Excerpts are below:

Reflections on their upcoming encounter against Jamshedpur

FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez spoke about how they are preparing for their encounter against the Men of Steel, emphasizing how the job against Jamshedpur would not be simple. He said, “We are focused only on Jamshedpur. Jamshedpur now is a team who, if you see the numbers, the statistics, they don’t score too much goals but they don’t concede too much too. Except in the last game that was 3-2, the other games is 1-0, 1-0, 0-0. One day they conceded two goals in the injury time against North East.”

Manolo Marquez also added,” They are a difficult team because they are tactical, they are very good. Difficult to enter in the defense of this team. I know that everyone is thinking about we are on top and now we have three games at home. But I know that is a topic in football but it’s true. You can say now we have to get these nine points or seven. Let’s go for Jamshedpur and if we win even if we don’t win we have to prepare the next game against Kerala Blasters.”

Manolo talked about the things FC Goa has to work on

Coach Manolo shed light on the areas for growth, how and where he understands the squad has to focus on, and how the team is evolving each day and improving with time. The coach said,”All, because the perfect team doesn’t exist. All the games, it’s true that we have three clean sheets, but even in these games, the opponent, they had chances. But it’s impossible, practically, to have the opponent without chances, only, I know, Manchester City, when they play against the not very strong teams.”

“It’s very difficult in modern football, to not concede chances, but we need to improve in every aspect. In defence, in attack, in transitions, in set-pieces. But I’m very happy because I think that the improvement is a big thing. We are better now than in the beginning of the season. As a coach, I need to be focused only on FC Goa and we are satisfied how the team is improving game by game.” Manolo added.

Manolo’s views of holding the Super Cup in January

Manolo Marquez gave his opinions and observations on how challenging it will be to handle the ISL, Super Cup, and the impending Asian Cup when he was questioned about the possibility of hosting the Super Cup in January during the break.

The boss said,”Development is the ground rules, development is to increase the level of ISL, development is a lot of, are a lot of meanings and things. But we can be in the end of November and we don’t know still when we play the first game in the second leg. The fixture in the second leg.

“Okay, because the national team is playing Asian Cup, okay, because they have to say, okay, the national team qualify, we’ll start this day. If they don’t qualify, we’ll start this day. It’s very difficult. And then, Super Cup now, after the ISL, now they say in the middle of January, it’s difficult, because there is the Asian Cup, then, even for the competition, all the teams will play without the players of the national team.”

Manolo further added,”For me, it is not a good idea to play in January, but if we have to play in January, they have to announce, not only as soon as possible, because now they say it will be from this date to this date, but we need to prepare everything. If you win the Super Cup, you have a slot for Asian competition. A lot of things that are very important, if you want to organize. Even, it seems a nonsense, but you can avoid injuries if you know exactly the fix.”

Odei Onaindia’s Comments

Thoughts on playing in India

Odei Onaindia shed light on how he have seen development of football in India and what made him continue to play foootball in India for third season in a row. Odei said,”I think that the ISL is increasing, the players are increasing, you can see it when you watch the national team football. I think that for the first season that I came here, they are on another level, they are better now, they are a lot better now and they will increase year by year.”

“Have seen a lot of good players and each one is totally different. So I think that in each game I had to prepare totally different and that’s why also they are strong teams and strong strikers. I don’t know exactly which one is the best one but I know that they are a lot,” When asked about a player he thought was difficult to defend against, Odei talked about his experiences defending against all other players as level of every player cannot be differentiated.

Ideas about FC Goa’s defensive capabilities

Odei talked about FC Goa’s strong defensive performance this season, as they managed to keep clean sheets and concede less goals. He said,” I think that the defense also starts from the striker, so it’s not only the defenders or the keeper. I think that the press starts from the striker and that’s why we are doing well press and everything, because after we have less chances in our goal. So I think that it’s not only defense and keeper, I think that the whole squad is doing well and that’s why we are achieving more points.”

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