I don't feel pressure, I love my job, says Bengaluru FC boss Gerard Zaragoza

Gerard Zaragoza highlighted how the ISL has changed over time.

Bengaluru FC, in their bid to qualify for the top-six of ISL, travel to Jamshedpur to take on against Jamshedpur FC. Like Bengaluru, Jamshedpur FC too are vying for a place in the playoffs and are under a good run of form under Khalid Jamil’s tutelage. Both the teams have played 14 games this season with Bengaluru finding themselves in seventh place with 14 points and Jamshedpur FC finding themselves in the eighth position with 13 points. The upcoming game will be important for both sides for their playoff aspirations.

Gerard Zaragoza and Nikhil Poojary spoke to the media on the eve of the “steel derby” fixture as both the terms are owned by big steel making conglomerates.

Battle for top-six

Gerard Zaragoza shared his thoughts about the top-six battle that is taking place between multiple teams and believes that his team will take one game at a time. He said, “It’s an important game, but it’s important for us like it was important three days ago against Chennai or for them against Mumbai. I think that there are around five or six teams who will fight for one position. That’s difficult. I think it’s the most difficult season in the last 10 seasons.”

Moreover, he praised the new optimism of Jamshedpur FC under Khalid Jamil and quoted, “They are doing nice things from when they changed the coach. Before also they were doing well, but with the new coach they arrived to the semi-final of the Super Cup and they did this turnaround against Mumbai. As I said, we are not thinking too much about the sixth position. We are thinking only about Jamshedpur. And after Jamshedpur, we will think about Mumbai and so on.“

Pressure of coaching Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC are one of the most celebrated clubs in India. When asked if there is any pressure of coaching Bengaluru FC, a club that always demands success, the Spaniard answered by stating that there is no pressure to coach rather that he loves his job despite the current situation.

“No, I don’t feel pressure, believe me. I love my job. We are people who work in what we love. I don’t feel any pressure. I was here with Carles Cuadrat. I won leagues in Qatar. I was with coach Michael Laudrup for three seasons,“ he asserted.

Thoughts on the ISL 

Gerard Zaragoza was part of the coaching staff in the 2018-19 season where BFC emerged as champions and he left the club after Cuadrat’s departure. The Spaniard came back to India after nearly four years as a head coach. When asked how he sees the evolution of the league, he replied, “I think it’s more competitive now. More teams are trying to win the shield, to win the playoffs, to arrive to the playoffs. “

Poojary’s thoughts

Nikhil Poojary was one of the top winter recruits for the Blues. He shared his thoughts on the top-six battle and mentioned, “The Chennai game was a good indicator of the football we want to play or we can play. The intent was there. Playing beautiful football is a process. It takes time. But we all know we have a few games left in the regular season. And we believe we can make it to the playoffs. But we also think we can go game by game.”

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