Hugo Boumous: Lenny Rodrigues is a very important player for FC Goa

The FC Goa midfielder spoke in length regarding his team, the season, his teammates and more.

FC Goa could barely be at a better position in the league than they are right now. Having secured 21 points from 10 matches and being at the top of the league table, the overall mood encapsulating the side must be soaring high. In similar circumstances, our correspondent Ravish Narvekar from Goa caught up with Hugo Boumous for an interview.

To start the conversation, Hugo Boumous addressed FC Goa’s ongoing run of form as he said, “I feel very good. This is the best position that we can be in right now. First part of the season, we did great. We earned a lot of points. Even if I think that during all the games all the squad would have been available we would have got more points.”

Hugo Boumous was 22 when he moved to India to play in the ISL. He was asked the thought process, the motivation behind coming to this country at such a tender age of his footballing career, considering it is contrary to the regular pattern that has been observed since the inception of the league.

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“What was the motivation? To get experience for my life, my career, my football and I came here and all are friends very well; with the fans, the players, the teammates, the club, the staff. So, I decided to continue here till I am happy,” he remarked.

The midfielder further explained the coach’s philosophy and what Sergio Lobera has tried to change with regards to the way the team plays the game. “I think we are keep going in the same way, the same idea of football with stability because we are still the same squad with only one-two-three new players. So this I think our strong thought right now,” he said.

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FC Goa lost to Bengaluru FC in the final of the league last season. Their momentum hasn’t seemed to have disrupted though and Boumous spoke on the team’s chances to go all the way this time around. “We are very confident. We know our quality. So, it’s only on us to keep going in that way and to stay serious, to give 100%, our best in each game and earn the most points possible,” he stated.

Hugo Boumous put further light on the chances of his team qualifying to the AFC Champions League as he remarked, “Yeah, at the beginning of the season we didn’t know that. Now that we know that, we are sure. So we want of course to finish first at the table. Before this, we have a lot of games. We have to take care in each game you know, one after one. Now we have to be focused only on the next game against Bengaluru.”

Hugo Boumous' ISL Five-A-Side Squad

Lenny Rodrigues has had a fantastic season so far too and Boumous was keen to speak on his teammate. “Lenny is a very important player for the team. Maybe he is not the first player that you can see on the pitch but his work, his job is necessary for everybody. He is a very hard worker, he is playing well. We need him, for sure we need him. He is a very important player for that kind of play, that style of play that we are doing,” were his words about Lenny.

The Frenchman revealed his relationship with FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera as he went on saying, “With Sergio, I like to work with him as he gave me a lot of confidence when I am on the pitch, he let me play. This is what makes the difference as he lets me express my skills, my possession, everything on the pitch.”

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The influx of the foreign players in the league has increased in recent times, as the overall profile has altered too with relatively younger players choosing to play in the ISL. Speaking on this, Hugo Boumous said, “Yes I think it is a very good thing for the league. The players who are coming are more fit and everything. The players want to show that they have good quality and everything. The players want to win trophies. So, it can only be a good thing for the league.”

The 24-year-old also projected his thoughts on the upcoming half of the season, “We have to keep the same ideas. We have to be more strong, more focused; we have to be at the top during the 90 minutes. We have to be maybe a little bit more together when it is difficult during the game and in front of the goal we have to try and score each chance.”

Hugo Boumous World Five-A-Side Squad

The younger Indian players have risen through the ranks due to the ISL in recent times. Some of them play in FC Goa and Hugo Boumous had kind words to say about them.

“Yeah, they are playing well. They have good potential. They have quality; with Gama, Princeton. I think that they are going to have a bright future here in India. But now it’s only up to them, to work a lot, to become good player and fit player and I will hope for them and I am sure that they will get chances and they will play.”

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Hugo Boumous has undoubtedly been one of the best midfielders in the league in recent times and he then echoed his thoughts on the qualities that a modern-day midfielder should possess by saying, “A modern midfielder should have vision, he should have technically skills, he should play with speed, should have good quality of passes, and also strong, and should have endurance.”

Finally, he was asked about his ideal five-a-side ISL team and Boumous remarked, “If I have to pick a defender, it will honestly be Mourtada Fall. If I have to pick a goalkeeper it will be the one from Bengaluru FC. Then; Jahouh, Edu and Coro!” He further said, “My world football team would have Messi, Iniesta, Verratti, and in defense Sergio Ramos and the goalkeeper from FC Barcelona, Ter Stegen.”