Manolo Marquez points to crucial aspect which needs to improve after draw against Mohammedan SC

Manolo Marquez also praised the opposition for a great performance.

FC Goa managed to salvage a point in their second game of the Indian Super League (ISL) season against Kolkata giants Mohammedan SC, but their performance left much to be desired. The Gaurs, who have struggled to find their form this season, faced a tough challenge in this match, and head coach Manolo Marquez did not hold back in his post-match assessment.

Frustrated with his team’s display, Manalo Marquez openly criticized their performance, highlighting concerns about their mental approach to the game. “We are not in a good mood, especially mentally, because it’s not a problem physically or technically, as we know the kind of players we have,” Manolo stated. “But the team seems tired, and in some moments, we don’t know what to do.”

The coach also took responsibility for the team’s struggles, admitting that his choices might not have been ideal. “Even I don’t know, maybe I was wrong with the line-up, I was wrong with the substitutions,” Marquez said. He went on to express concern over the team’s inability to find solutions during the game. “It’s not about tools to find, to search, and give this.”

While FC Goa managed to secure a point with a late injury-time goal, Marquez was not convinced that they had earned it. “The positive thing is that playing in this way, we got one point in injury time, but I’m not sure that we deserve this.”

Despite his frustration with his own team’s performance, FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez had praise for their opponents, Mohammedan Sporting Club, following their impressive display in their debut ISL campaign. The Spaniard acknowledged the quality and effort shown by the Kolkata-based side, commending them for their resilience and style of play.

“They played a good game, same as the other day,” Manolo Marquez remarked, reflecting on Mohammedan’s continued strong showing. He noted that, while they may still be dealing with some physical challenges, they are quickly adapting to the rigors of the ISL. “I think that they are still with this, maybe a physical problem because the season was short. Or maybe in a similar situation to Punjab at the beginning of last season, where they are still adapting to ISL,” he explained. 

Marquez highlighted Mohammedan’s unfortunate luck in losing points late in games but emphasized that their performances have been commendable. “To lose some points in the end timing of both games is bad, but I think that the supporters of Mohammedan SC should be very proud of this team because they played well.”

He also praised their clear style of play and the continuity within their squad, which has made them a difficult opponent. “It’s clear that they have a clear style with a lot of continuity in their players. And it was a very difficult game for us,” Manolo concluded.

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