Juan Ferrando: I am completely satisfied because we got three points

With the win against the Men of Steel, FC Goa are now at third place on the ISL points table.

After a spectacular effort all over the pitch, FC Goa claimed a statement win against one of their fellow Indian Super League (ISL) playoff challengers Jamshedpur FC. The win was capped by a brace from Jorge Ortiz and a searing run and goal by defender Ivan Gonzalez. At the same time, Owen Coyle’s side failed to convert most of their golden chances with Naveen Kumar standing firm between the posts for the Gaurs in his first match this season. After the game, FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on the win.

Verdict on result

An all-around solid effort was deemed praiseworthy by the Gaur head coach. “I am completely satisfied. Because we got three points and controlled the space and during some moments we controlled the game.”

Igor Angulo's absence

ISL Top-scorer Igor Angulo’s name was missing from the starting eleven. “Igor had illness over the last few days. Yesterday, he was feeling better. We have 25 players and we believe in all the players. The most important thing for us is to prepare for the game and to trust all our players and work with them," Juan Ferrando explained.

Performance of Ortiz and Naveen

With Angulo on the bench, the onus was on fellow Spaniard Jorge Ortiz to thrive as a No.9. And he didn’t disappoint. “Every game is different. The game against ATKMB is very different from the game against Jamshedpur, we prepare for every game because every game is different. We prepared with Ortiz because we knew about Eze, Hartley and the defence of Jamshedpur, the space behind their line. In this case, we took this decision. This is the coaching staff’s job.”

Naveen Kumar’s first appearance ended with a clean sheet for the Indian, only the second for FC Goa this season. He made crucial saves at key moments to preserve Goa’s advantage. “I am very happy with the defence. I am very happy with Naveen. It is necessary to continue to improve. Jamshedpur had 6-7 shots on target. Next game, we should only allow 3. It happens step-by-step and we need to continue working," the tactician said.

The road ahead

Despite their current third position, Juan Ferrando remains rooted to his goals. “The most important thing right now is to put the focus on ATKMB. Thinking about our position right now is irrelevant. It   Now, our target is to get three points in the next match and prepare for the game against ATKMB with that in mind. It is a very difficult game on Sunday. He concluded.