Bengaluru FC coach Gerard Zaragoza reveals what went wrong against FC Goa

A damning first loss of the season for the Blues against a spirited Manolo Marquez side.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC tasted defeat for the very first time this season against FC Goa. Gerard Zaragoza’s men fought till the end but couldn’t create many chances to break FC Goa’s defence. A spirited Gaur’s side led by goals from Armando Sadiku, Brison Fernandes, and Dejan Drazic were too hot to handle for the Blues at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday.

The result meant the Blues recorded their first loss this season in the ISL and made fans wonder what went wrong last night.

The Manolo Marquez jinx continues for Bengaluru FC

A damning stat for the Blues fans will be their team’s inability to get all three points against the Spaniard. The 56-year-old Spaniard extended his unbeaten run of positive results against the Blues last night. Manolo Marquez now stands nine games with a loss in his three seasons with Hyderabad FC and now close to two seasons with FC Goa.

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Away-game nerves strike again for the Blues

Before the FC Goa game, Bengaluru were riding high and mighty offensively and defensively this season. The only slight concern was their patchy away from under Spanish head coach Gerard Zaragoza. The fears became a huge worry at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday for the West Block Blues.

“Finally, we are a waiting team. We are the team who have 16 points, and we are not in a rush. I mean, we want to play our football, and our football is to dominate the game. The thing is that Goa pressed us well, and then we could not detect where was the space. Then after the goal, it’s normal,” said Gerard Zaragoza.

The club have played three away games this season while recording only four points out of a maximum of nine possible points.

The first two away games of the season against Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters FC saw the Blues earn positive results despite slight concerns about lacking control and missed chances. The game against FC Goa was a culmination of all of these concerns becoming a harrowing reality for Zaragoza and his men.

The fall of the Great Blue Wall

Until the Blues visit to the Fatorda Stadium, Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had regained his confidence and proved he was one of the best shot-stoppers in the league. The 32-year-old had kept 5 clean sheets this season for the Blues and led the league in the stat board for the same. Apart from his short stopping, Gurpreet was also effectively able to find his teammates and his distribution was pinpoint.

However, what could go wrong, went wrong for the Indian national team goalkeeper against Goa. Gurpreet looked shaky throughout the game. He was at fault for FC Goa’s second goal, making an error under duress and gifting Brison Fernandes the ball on a plate. Gurpreet was again beaten easily on his near post by Drazic, who encapsulated his horrible night.

Gerard Zaragoza concluded, “We are working day by day, and I said it many times, but today I’m going to repeat, that the important thing is to be on top in the match when we finish the season. Now it’s about working day by day, game by game, winning points, and being there. Nothing else more than this.”

The failure against FC Goa while unacceptable could lead to the Blues pushing an extra 5 per cent next game. While the unbeaten run is now over, the opportunity to win all the available big prizes will be plenty of motivation for Zaragoza and his men.

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