EXCLUSIVE: Manolo Marquez opens up on facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Indian football’s growth & more

The Spaniard shares his thoughts on the team’s mindset and preparation ahead of the crucial encounter.

Manolo Marquez-led FC Goa’s AFC Champions League Two campaign has hit early turbulence. After a disappointing 0–2 defeat to Istiklol, the Gaurs now find themselves at the bottom of Group D, facing an uphill task to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The performance against FC Istiklol exposed areas that still demand cohesion and sharpness, especially in the final third, which are the elements that will be severely tested in their next outing.

Awaiting them is none other than Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Nassr, who are sitting comfortably at the top of the table. With a star-studded lineup of their team and a near-flawless start to their campaign, Al Nassr bring pedigree and pressure into this clash.

𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐖𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬… 𝐅𝐎𝐑Ç𝐀 𝐆𝐎𝐀 🧡 pic.twitter.com/oLRSofJJCv

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) October 18, 2025

For Manolo Marquez’s men, the fixture is not just about points. This is a chance to prove themselves against one of Asia’s elite and rediscover the skills they’re known for.

As FC Goa regroup and refocus ahead of their toughest challenge yet, the Gaurs’ Head coach Manolo Marquez remains determined.

Speaking ahead of the Al Nassr encounter, the Spaniard addressed the lessons learned from the defeat, the team’s mindset going forward, and how Goa plan to approach an experienced side

Talking about the recent performances

Manolo Marquez asserted that qualifying for the group stage is a notable achievement, and despite the recent losses, the team is gaining valuable experience.

“Everyone is just talking about these two games that we lost, but prior to these games, the team achieved a significant victory in the preliminary round against a strong team which included several of their national players. Qualifying is a notable achievement, too and despite the recent losses, I think the team is gaining valuable experience. “

Importance of the game against Al Nassr

The coach discusses the significance of an upcoming match against Al-Nassr, indicating it is a major event not just for his team but for Indian football as a whole.

“Pele or Messi might have visited the country and played here but they were here for the friendly games, This is different since it’s a competitive and official game. It is a major event not just for his team but for Indian football as a whole.”

“We are playing one of the strongest teams of Asia. This will be good for Indian football and I am confident in the team’s ability to compete against one of Asia’s top teams. And I hope we get to witness a fully packed stadium that day”

About facing Cristiano Ronaldo

“In football anything can happen in a situation there has always been a history of small teams winning over big ones, Yes there’s always a favourite, But in the end it’s 11 vs 11 players. Yes we will be facing Ronaldo but it’s not just Cristiano Ronaldo but there are other incredibly talented players like Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, Inigo Martinez, Sadio Mane or Bento and this is going to be incredible for Indian football”

“When we heard we were going to play against Al Nassr we were all very happy and excited. It would be great if we could beat them but if we don’t we will just be happy for being able to represent at the Asian level and the experience”

Preparations for the Al Nassr game

Talking about the preparations, the coach addresses the heightened motivation among the players to perform well. He also spoke about the challenges posed by a demanding schedule,

“Other coaches might tell you it’s all the same, but it isn’t. These kinds of games are good, but we have three official games in three months and with five games in 14 days, which requires careful planning and adjustment in training.”

“The Super Cup is very important as it is a pathway to qualifying for future Asian competitions, So winning the Super Cup is a priority alongside the upcoming match against Al-Nassr.”

Message to successor Khalid Jamil

When asked about his successor, Khaled Jamil, the coach expresses respect for him and said he refrains from giving unsolicited advice and spoke about their good relationship.

“I don’t think I should be giving him any kind of advice, I have a great rapport with him since I’ve been here for six years and he’s been in the ISL since a long time, I’ve also played against him when we faced North East United or Jamshedpur FC.

I have a lot of respect for him and I think he’s one of the best Indian Coaches and as a coach of a different club I can’t help him but whenever he needs any players from FC Goa, I will always offer my help by sending them to the national team”

“I genuinely hope India qualifies because I have a love this country and I have a lot of affection towards the Indian players. And I hope that they qualify because it would be good for Indian football, It’s difficult but the hope is always there”

About the uncertainty of the ISL and I-League

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the ISL and the I-League this season. Manolo Marquez spoke about how difficult this situation is for him, his players and the club.

“It is a difficult situation to be in, especially during training. I think we are lucky because we get some exposure because of these games but these come at an interval of a couple of months as well. It keeps getting difficult to train the players every single day. And I think this issue must be solved at the earliest because it’s not a good sign for Indian football”

Importance of foreign players

The coach addresses the role of foreign players in Indian football, stating that the issue is not solely about their presence but rather the overall development system in place. He emphasised the need to focus on nurturing local talent and building a strong foundation for future generations.

“I don’t think the issue is about their presence, When the ISL began the foreigners were famous but they were in the last phase so it is not the issue. But rather the overall development system in place.

“I believe that ever since ISL a lot of people have forgotten about the grassroots. In contrast to Spain, young players get limited opportunities in India. There is an immediate need to focus on nurturing local talent and building a strong foundation for future generations. “

Views about Indian football competing at a world level

The coach believes that competing at a world level in football will take time and requires a consistent effort in developing the sport at the grassroots level.

“It cannot be done in a less time, Even if you look at countries like Uzbekistan, they have been consistently trying from 15-20 years. It requires a consistent effort in developing the sport at the grassroots level. Other countries have been working on their football infrastructure for years, which is why they are seeing success now.”

“In international football landscape, there is a lot of discrepancies in player eligibility rules across countries that create unfair competition. Organizations like FIFA should ensure that the rules should be same for all the countries because Teams who have naturalised players are competing with teams that have only local players which is unfair. These differences affect rankings and perceptions of national teams on the whole”

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