We need to enter the pitch and show that team wants three points, says Manolo Marquez

Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa have an uphill task to restore themselves to their purple patch of form against a faltering East Bengal side.

FC Goa will face East Bengal FC at the Fatorda Stadium hoping for a positive result in the ISL 2023/24 on Wednesday. The Goan outfit have suffered five back-to-back disappointments: draws against Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC and losses against NorthEast United FC, Mohun Bagan, and Kerala Blasters. The Red and Gold Brigade are not exactly having a jolly time either with three losses and two victories in their last five. While attending the pre-match press conference, head coach Manolo Marquez and first-choice goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh gave us their thoughts ahead of the game.

On coming back from injury and how he sees himself helping out his team during a crucial patch

Dheeraj Singh is set to feature in the game against East Bengal after a long hiatus. Arshdeep Singh snatching away the limelight with some scintillating displays to get seven clean sheets hasn’t exactly helped his case either. On being restored to the squad he iterated: 

“We still have time. We still have six games remaining for the regular league. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity but I have huge respect for Arshdeep (Singh) for how he came up and performed. It’s not easy for any goalkeeper or the team to maintain seven clean sheets. So yeah, I’ve been waiting for this opportunity and improving myself in the areas I could.

“Finally, I’ve gotten a chance and this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. It’s time for me to rise to the opportunity and improve. Now, it’s time to forget about individual performances as it’s a crucial time. We need to focus on what we can do as a team as the teams’ performance is much more important than individual performances. We are all professionals and we have to do well in the coming six games to get the maximum points we can.” 

Thoughts on East Bengal

Dheeraj Singh has more or less fared well against East Bengal, saving a penalty in his first match against them in the Gaurs’ colors. But he made no airy remarks about them being an easy opposition as he stated:

“It’s a difficult game. But it’s going to be difficult in every game ahead of us. We need to prepare ourselves the way we have been preparing ourselves since the start of the ISL. So we need to play as a team, together. Each individual performing collectively will give you a good result so we’ve been preparing well after the last game. Hopefully, we’ll try to get the maximum points out of it.”

On falling down the pecking order and how he reacted to it

Arshdeep Singh started in FC Goa’s goal for the 2023/24 season and made the starting position his own due to some outstanding performances. Inevitably the initial first-choice goal custodian had to look for a way back to the playing eleven. Dheeraj recalls:

“It’s always unpleasant for any professional player when they don’t get a chance and someone else plays in their place. But even in last year’s press conferences, I mentioned that we have very good goalkeepers in our team, and everyone is ready to play. If you give any of them a chance they will grab hold of the opportunity to prove themselves.

“As a professional, I need to keep myself calm and focus on the areas which are under my control. It was hard for me because as a player I wanted to play. I understand the situation where the team is performing so well and so is Arsh(deep). So I need to keep my patience and wait for an opportunity. This is how it is with all professionals. I belong to the team even if I play or don’t play. So I need to stick with the team until I get the chance or any opportunity ahead of me.”

On the team’s performances during the last four matches

The Spanish manager dissected his teams’ worrying state especially when they are a goal down or have to reply after conceding. FC Goa’s red-hot form was interrupted by the same and the coach commented saying:

“Football. In the first leg, the scores were incredible. But I’m repeating, maybe in that first leg there were games that we didn’t deserve to win. For example, my feeling is that we could come back with the six points in Mumbai and Kerala but we only came back with one. The team played a very good game in the first half against both teams. But only 45 minutes. Very bad 45 minutes in Kerala killed us. We got only one point and it’s true that we could have seen things out in another way, probably.

“Finally, in the regular season, every team will finish in the position that they deserve. Still, all is not done, and let’s see what happens eventually because yesterday NorthEast (United FC) couldn’t win over Hyderabad (FC). Then Odisha (FC) lost in Chennai and Kerala (Blasters FC) lost in Bangalore. Still, there will be more scores like this.”

On the game against East Bengal being the salvation they will be hoping for

Although East Bengal have not exactly been their best selves in the last five games and it could be the perfect opportunity for Goa, Marquez is skeptical. The tactician calmly responded saying:

“It will be perfect because it is the next. Every game is the perfect moment to come back if you are not winning the last games. We need to enter the pitch tomorrow and show that the team wants the three points.”

On the recent slump in performance especially during the second half of games

The reason for FC Goa’s recent dip in form is one to be studied. Especially after their dominant start to the season. The mentor took it upon himself as he concluded: 

“It is true. But for me, in the first half against Mohun Bagan, and the rest of the games were very similar. Finally, one action decided the game. The thing is that even the other day in Mumbai when the opponent scored before us the team reacted very well. This was not the case against Mohun Bagan. We tried but the goal came very late. Against NorthEast the first goal was hard because we honestly didn’t expect it. When you are thinking we lost because its normal to lose against a team like Mohun Bagan but then the same happens at home thats more upsetting. We had more chances in the first half but finally, one action, one penalty, and the mentality of the team was crushed.

“We couldn’t turn the tide in our favor because to do that you have to equalise the game as soon as possible. I told the players yesterday that there are a lot of teams in the world that don’t know how to draw. I know that this sentence might sound defensive (smirks) but a draw is better than a loss, especially when you don’t have a good game. It’s obvious. But during a season with three or four draws, it is easy to explain and difficult when on the pitch because you’re constantly thinking that you have to win.

“At the moment we are in such a position that we have to win the game or finally, we will have to fight for the third, fourth, or fifth position. That’s all and it’s clear what the situation is right now. Yellow cards and disciplinary absences are common in football but what is most important now is to avoid stupid yellow cards. For example, removing the jersey when you score or express dissent to the referee because now every action and every card is important.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.