Victory would have been a great outcome for fans, admits Juan Ferrando

The Gaurs narrowly missed out on securing a record-setting win.

FC Goa played their third draw in the ongoing AFC Champions League (ACL) 2021 on Monday. The game against Al Rayyan ended with a goal apiece for both teams. Juan Ferrando and Co. would have created history with their first win, had the opposition not equalized in the 89th minute.

It was Ali Ferydoon who canceled out Jorge Ortiz's early opener. Having said that, Laurent Blanc's men were lucky to come away with a point, as their opponents had several chances to finish the game off. After the final whistle, Goa coach Ferrando spoke to the media during the post-match interaction:

Reaction to result

Juan Ferrando expressed his disappointment with the result, especially considering how close his team were to an iconic win.

He said, “Of course, it’s a difficult one to lose in the last minute. But, the truth is that we played against very good teams. It's a pleasure to play against Persepolis, Al Wahda and Al-Rayyan. It’s very important to control some mistakes. Today's was a very important game because the situation in India is very difficult. I am thinking that if we had won, it would have been a good moment for the Indian people.”

Another opportunity on Thursday

The 40-year-old further spoke on the chance to improve in the next game against Al Wahda. He mentioned how the players were thinking about the overall conditions that are prevailing in the country and that a victory could be a great outcome for the fans.

"The players today were talking about playing for India. In the end, at the last minute, this is football. I think it is necessary to talk to the players, they have done a great job. Of course, we need to improve, we have one more opportunity to do so next Thursday, against Al Wahda," he commented.

Morale after equalizer

The Spaniard gave his honest opinion regarding the equalizer and reiterated that the players were very exhausted during the later stages of the game.

“The action (leading to) the goal came after a transition. I have to go and watch if it was a foul. In this transition, it’s difficult because when when you suddenly change from attack to defence, normally the team is not ready. This is the difference between teams of India and teams like Al-Rayyan. I know my players were exhausted, believe me. The last minute today for them was a terrible moment, but it’s only possible to tell them in the dressing room that I was happy with their job," Juan Ferrando pointed out.

Positives to take

Juan Ferrando concluded by talking about the fact that, despite the result, playing in the ACL is a great learning experience.

“I think it’s good to play in these competitions like the AFC Champions League because when we analyze the game, we can decide the solutions to the mistakes, what is the problem and then to practice these points on the pitch later," he signed off.

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