Javier Gurri Lopez: We are checking new, younger players

The Hyderabad FC interim coach also revealed that he feels his team need to be compact.

Hyderabad FC will face Mumbai City FC in their next encounter in the ISL 2019-20 season. Languishing at the bottom of the table, the hosts would be keen to overturn the result from their humiliating loss against the Islanders merely a month or so ago. Ahead of the game, interim head coach Javier Gurri Lopez interacted with the media in the pre-match press conference.

Adil Khan, who accompanied the interim Hyderabad FC boss in the press conference, has extended his contract with the club for three more years until 2023. This announcement was made before the floor was opened for questions.

Adil Khan

Asked about where he sees Hyderabad FC going after extending his stay with the club, he answered, “That’s the plan now. A new coach has arrived, so we are working on a new plan. The preparations are ongoing for the next season. The process to build a good team is going on."

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"Albert Roca will take over the duties now. So, we plan to reach new heights. We will try to be in the top four in the next season. What we planned for this year was not possible, due to the performances, but we will try to perform well next season,” he added.

An excessive number of goals being conceded has been a major cause of concern for Hyderabad FC this season. Javier Gurri Lopez was asked how the team would look to tackle the problem going forward and whether they are looking to buy a new defender.

Lopez On Buying New Defenders

“Of course. We have a month or half until the end of the season and we try to know all the players. But, also, we try to know and we try to win the next games. It’s not easy, but we are checking new players, younger players and we are very excited about our team,” he answered.

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Javier Gurri Lopez later explained further by stating, “Sometimes, we had some silly mistakes, defending, but they are creating so many chances. I think that we deserve to win and this is our positive feedback for the next game.”

Elaborating on the team’s defensive woes, Javier Gurri Lopez remarked, “Yes, I have been looking at the statistics of our team and our team is the team that has received the most goals. We have received 31 goals and this is not possible. If you want to be successful and you want to be at the top level of the competition, one of the things that need to be told is to not receive that quantity of goals."

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"But, I feel it is a problem not specific to the defenders, but to the whole team. We need to be compact. We attack 11 players, with also the goalkeeper and we defend 11 players, with also the strikers. This is our philosophy,” Javier Gurri Lopez added.

Team News

Dimple Bhagat will miss the game after picking up a red card against Odisha FC. Midfielder Rohit Kumar was stretchered off the pitch in the same match. Rafa Lopez is also out with an injury.

However, new signing Liston Colaco might make it to the bench against the Islanders.

Probable Lineup

Kamaljit; Rai, Gurtej, Kilgallon, Poojary, Shankar, Adil, Nestor, Marcellinho, Barnes, Bobo.

Broadcast

The game will commence from 7:30 PM IST on Friday evening. It will be telecast live on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD. It will also be available to stream on Hotstar and Jio TV.