We'll be very confident on Monday, asserts FC Goa boss Manolo Marquez

Manolo Marquez also mentioned Brandon’s performance will be a key aspect of the ISL clash.

Petr Kratky’s high-spirited Mumbai City FC will be taking on Manolo Marquez’s FC Goa at the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai on Monday. After a dramatic turnaround for Mumbai City FC in the injury time of the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-finals’ first leg, the Spanish tactician of the Gaurs did set the spotlight on his team’s shortcomings during the post-match press conference.

With Coach Manolo Marquez and his men bracing themselves up ahead of their crucial tie in Mumbai on Monday evening, let’s delve into the excerpts from the Spanish gaffer’s exclusive media interaction during Saturday’s pre-match press conference. He was also joined by FC Goa captain, Brandon Fernandes.

Brandon’s thoughts on previous loss

After a fairytale comeback by Mumbai City FC at Fatorda bamboozled the home side and its fans, coach Manolo Marquez stated that his team was in the game till the 86 minute but what happened after that shouldn’t have happened. When Brandon was asked about his thoughts on the first leg, the skipper replied, “Well, I think we played an excellent game. Like you said, we could lose one game, but how we lost the game hurts a lot. We were very disappointed.

“I think, you know, the good thing about that was we have another chance. If we were to lose against Chennai in this way, things would have been over. So, for me, I look at the positives. We have another chance. Like I said, another 90-plus minutes in Mumbai and we have to give our everything.”

“The boys are wounded, they are hurt. We have to go there and give everything. Fight for every ball, every minute, and let’s see what happens in Mumbai,” he further added.

Brandon’s thoughts on his substitution

FC Goa skipper Brandon Fernandes being subbed off in the 85th minute was the supposed turnaround of the game in the first leg of the semi-finals. Brandon was also able to find his name on the scoresheet in the 56th minute with a stunner from outside the 18-yard box that gave his team a firm 2-0 lead. The Gaurs’ fanbase believes that his substitution did change the course of the game.

“Well, the substitution is the perfect decision. Of course, I was tired, no doubt about that. But yeah, you know, in those moments we are leading 2-0 up, another fresh player coming in, and doing the work would be better, and I think that’s what the coach thought. It was very fair.

“I feel we were 2-0 up and maybe it was one of those days. The substitution didn’t work. I have no grudges over the substitution. I spoke to the coach about it and he told me the same thing. It has nothing to do with the substitution. I was happy to come off in a way that we were leading 2-0, but it was just unfortunate that in those six minutes, three goals that we conceded were counted.” Brandon replied.

Brandon’s thoughts on the turnaround

“Well, it’s very difficult to explain the situation when the other team gets that one goal. You know, they get that motivation and that’s what they did. They pushed, you know, and we were a little bit of, you know, we didn’t have the focus. I feel we had a lack of concentration in those moments and the other team capitalized on that.

“We also do the same thing to other teams sometimes when we are losing and then when we come back and try to equalize the game and score another goal. If you go to see that in the previous games that we also have done the same thing, within five, six, seven minutes, we have scored one goal and the other goal has come also. So, it’s all about staying focused and concentrated till the end of the game,” Brandon said when asked about the dramatic turnaround that took place within a matter of six minutes.

Brandon’s thoughts on the next day’s training

When a team suffers a defeat in this way, it’s obvious to the players and the staff to be in a state of dejection. In Brandon’s words, “Well, we were all sad, we were all hurt by that result. But immediately the coach came into the dressing room and said, this is not over. And we believe that it’s not over as yet. It’s not over until it’s over. So, for me, still another 90-plus minutes in Mumbai. We believe that if there is one team that can go to Mumbai and beat Mumbai is FC Goa.”

Brandon’s thoughts on his journey with FC Goa

Brandon Fernandes, who is currently the captain of FC Goa shared a snippet of his journey with FC Goa so far. “It has been an incredible journey for me, playing for this club, a huge honor for me, and representing my home team. Being the captain, I’m very privileged.

“For me, it is all about, playing for this club, giving everything for this club. I can do the best, and yeah, one thing I would like to add to it is this ISL trophy. I hope that we can turn this around in Mumbai and get into the finals.”

“Well, you can say the best form because I scored three goals in three games and I hope I score in the next game. Also, for me, the most important thing is to play and to help the team in whatever way I can. Goals, assists, whatever way I am more satisfied when the team is winning. Even though I scored in the last game and the team lost it didn’t mean anything to me because the team had not won the game. I hope in the next game I can score another goal and the team wins,” he concluded.

Manolo Marquez’s thoughts on tactical changes

FC Goa are in a do-or-die situation for Monday’s game. If they win, they go to the finals of the ISL 2023-24 season. If they lose, their season concludes here itself. When Manolo was asked about any tactical changes for the must-win game, he replied, “Even I was doubting in the first leg to do any other kind of tactical change. Not in the lineup, but in a different kind of situation, perhaps the system. But my feeling is that even though they had more possession this is true that the possession was mostly between Bheke and Tiri.”

On team’s mentality

In Coach Manolo Marquez’s words, “It’s because I am old and there are some things that happened in the past that are better now there are a lot of things better than before. The stadiums, the referees, the facilities, and the technologies”

He continued, “Brandon indeed said that we did the same the other day against Chennai in the last game of the regular season and also in the Super Cup in Odisha. But we need to improve ourselves in this aspect because character and mentality are very important, I know a thousand cases of very good players who are at this level but with a good mentality here and it was very painful the other day but we still need to be positive and we think that we can turn the situation.”

“On Monday we will be very confident now it’s a process because it was a tough defeat then it’s normal to be very sad after the game was difficult to sleep was difficult the next day in the train session the day of I think was even I think players with bad mood but recovering now today we will be together again and tomorrow and we will travel, and I am completely sure that even if we did lose the last match, we will arrive in very good conditions mentally for the second leg,” Manolo Marquez boss further added.

Thoughts on Yasir

The Indian winger midfielder’s performance has been comprehensible lately. When asked about his thoughts on Mohammed Yasir, Manolo Marquez praised his player’s development over the ongoing season. “He is a very good player. I think he arrived in the middle of the season. He wasn’t very good in the beginning but now he is with a lot of assistance. He has scored two goals, and maybe four or five assists. Even he couldn’t play in a few games.”

“I knew the quality of Yasir, a long time ago. But the players who will step on the pitch in the second half, all are international players, and now if we lose or if we qualify for the finals, it won’t be because Yasir wasn’t there in the squad. I know everything but, he cannot play since he is injured. We will play with a substitute for Yasir,” Manolo Marquez concluded.

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