No added pressure of Durand Cup champions tag, says FC Goa coach Deggie Cordozo

The pair spoke on their Durand Cup chances, new signing Ayush Chhetri and Nemil’s experiences of playing in Spain.

FC Goa head into the 131st edition of the Durand Cup as the defending champions and the expectations of playing like one. They have been drawn in Group A alongside fellow ISL teams Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, I-League heavyweights Mohammedan SC and Indian Air Force. The Gaurs begin their campaign with the tournament opener against last season's finalists Mohammedan SC.

Although Goa start as the reigning champions, there are huge contrasts to the side that beat MDSC to lift the title last time around. FC Goa will play in Durand Cup 2022 with their developmental team with as many as 22 players picked from the reserve side.

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Ahead of their campaign, FC Goa coach Deggie Cordozo and young midfielder Muhammed Nemil spoke to the media and shared their thoughts.

Added pressure of being defending champions?

Coach Deggie Cardozo does not feel the pressure and expectations of having the defending champions tag. He has experienced the tournament before and knows how the system and atmosphere are. He feels that the preparation is good and that the team is in good shape, and they are waiting to get to Kolkata and perform. 

FC Goa are placed in Group A. Who is the biggest threat?

Paired along with Mohammedan Sporting, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC and Indian Air Force FT, Deggie does not rate anyone as a threat. He says, “For now, we have a good squad. Every match is an important match, and we will take things game by game. We are focussing on Mohammedan first and will work on our strengths and weaknesses.”

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FC Goa are having a closed pre-season camp and the youngsters are waiting for a good opportunity to break into the first team. Deggie finishes the answer with “This is what FC Goa is all about. It is about developing the players with the right mentality.”

Approaching the Durand Cup with young squad

The FC Goa coach feels that the intention is to win and stresses having the right mentality to perform and not just participate. The young players in the squad are mostly teenagers from the developmental team and they should be exposed to different atmospheres. “It is about winning, but it is also about development,” Deggie replies.

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On New Signing Ayush Chhetri who has joined the squad

Deggie thinks highly of Ayush, stating that he is a “good midfielder that likes to keep the ball and good in distribution and shooting. Such young players are a big boost to the team and push others to perform well in training.”

Have the performances in the Reliance Developmental League boosted the team?

FC Goa played both the RF Development League and Goa Pro League side-by-side with the same squad. In terms of understanding, Deggie foresees no problems and praised the team’s performances, looking forward keenly to the Durand Cup.

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Nemil on Spain's influence on him and returning to the Durand Cup scene

Nemil stayed in Spain at the Marcet high-performance academy for two years and really enjoyed his experience there. He thanks the high intensity in Spain to improve his performance in India. Nemil added that he dreamt of playing in the ISL and was looking forward to donning the FC Goa colours. He did not face any difficulty in adapting to the ISL’s pace and style of football. 

Last year, Nemil burst onto the scene during the Durand Cup. After a season of ISL under his belt, he feels the same in terms of preparedness. He says that he will “Try more than last year to help my team win.” Despite being one of the more experienced players, Nemil feels no added responsibility on his shoulders. 

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