What did FC Goa defender Aakash Sangwan say about him joining Indian football team?

Manolo Marquez also shared his thoughts on FC Goa’s gameplay

Aakash Sangwan made a huge leap after signing for FC Goa from Chennaiyin FC in the summer transfer window. Aakash was a regular and consistent performer for Marina Machans last season under Owen Coyle. Many ISL clubs wanted to tie him to their clubs but the Gaurs were able to convince the uncapped left back on a multi-year deal.

Aakash has played a part in both games for the club. However, FC Goa were unable to churn out a favorable result in their favor. In the pre-match conference before their game against a struggling East Bengal side, the wingback discussed his aspirations to represent the national team, emphasizing his strong desire to earn a spot.

When asked if having Manolo Marquez, his current club coach, also serving as a national team coach could make the process easier.

Aakash replied humbly saying, “See when I am playing for Goa I don’t think about the national team.” Furthermore, he went on to add, “Because if it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come. But my focus when I am with Goa is training every day to learn what the coach is telling me to do. And how the team plays. Like how FC Goa plays, not the national team.“

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Explaining his point further Aakash stated, “If the opportunity comes, I hope it comes without any bias. If the national team comes to me any day or whatever, I hope it’s not because of any inclination. I know it won’t be because of the bias that I am from FC Goa.”

The last two games were collective failures

FC Goa did not get the start they wished for in season 11 of the ISL and head coach Manolo Marquez was visibly furious about the performances of his team in the post-match press conference. When questioned if had found out what went wrong in the opening games. Manolo Marquez said, “No, we are not playing as a team. That’s the answer. We need to do it. We know that we can do it. And we need to do it.“

Henceforth, Manolo Marquez went on and expressed, “The other day, practically all the game, until the last 15 minutes, that the team was arriving at the box and searching the equalizers. But maybe a lot of individual situations that they are affecting to the group because everyone is thinking about his problem, not the problem of the team. I think that if we are strong in one aspect, it’s as a team, more than individual players.”

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