It's necessary to take a risk sometimes, says Juan Ferrando

The Gaurs' head coach spoke to the media ahead of the ISL semi-final second-leg clash on Monday.

After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, the tie between Mumbai City and FC Goa is entertainingly poised to serve up another thriller during the second leg on Monday. Based on the playing styles, both teams will be aiming for the win rather than trying their luck on penalties. On Sunday, Juan Ferrando and captain Edu Bedia answered questions from the media, on the eve of their most important game of the season so far.

Edu Bedia on playing with an injury

After the first leg, it was revealed that Edu Bedia had played the entire game with a minor fracture.

“It was an important game. I spoke to the medical team before the game and they told us that there is no risk of it getting damaged further. It was just a case of whether I would be able to handle the pain. There are other players who play with injuries so I don’t think we need to think more about this. Now, it is about focusing on the next game and try and make sure that we do well," he said.

The current FC Goa team and the predecessors

There have been unflattering comparisons between the current FC Goa side and the previous teams, but the skipper believes that the current team can rise up to any challenge.

“I do think this is the strongest team we have had. I think we are more of a team this year than we have been before. This is a team that is not just playing good football but also competing at every given opportunity. The games against Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai are examples of that," Bedia remarked.

The stakes for both sides

With the tag of League Winners, the onus is on Mumbai City to aim for the Championship trophy. “When we got into this game, Mumbai were just crowned the league champions. We got into the playoffs on the last day. I think the expectation was that Mumbai would have been far superior to us. But I think as the game went on, we felt that we were quite dominant in the game. The pressure is on them because they are considered the best team in the league right now. We just have to keep playing our football and see how our result shapes up,” Edu Bedia explained.

Juan Ferrando on the tight schedule

The tightness of schedule has been a major concern for the Spanish head coach.

“We want to win. It is the same for all the teams. After two days, it is difficult because if we want to prepare for the games, we need more days. In this case, we played on Friday, and then the next game is on Monday. I am upset about this. But this is the schedule. The most important thing is that the players are hundred percent ready. The mentality is that all the players are happy. It is a great opportunity for us to continue working. I hope we will be in the final," Ferrando said.

Taking the risk with certain players

Seriton Fernandes was stretchered off during the first half of the first leg. “The last game there were a lot of problems with the players. But it is normal. They are very tired. This season was very difficult for everybody. Because life has been strange. In this case, we make decisions, and sometimes we have success, sometimes no. It depends on two-three moments of the game. It is necessary to take a risk sometimes. In these last games, it is important to decide what is best for the team. It is not possible to know the future," the Gaurs tactician revealed.

Return of Ivan and Alberto Noguera

After serving one-game suspensions, Spanish duo Ivan Gonzalez ad Alberto Noguera are available for selection.

Juan Ferrando said, "At the end for me, all the players are important for me. Of course, it depends on if the players are ready. When you have all the players, it is good. Our job as the coaching staff is to prepare plans according to certain situations. For me, it is important that all the players are ready. In this case, I can work with different plans, if all the players are available."

What to be expected from the second leg

The second leg could be either a defensive slogfest or an offensive entertainer. “It is two teams, Mumbai and Goa. The mentality is almost the same. Both play in attack. Two teams want to win. I don’t know what will happen. Maybe intensity will be higher and drop off as the match goes on. It depends on a lot of factors. There are a lot of details that need to be controlled," said the 40-year-old.

Penalties

With chance for a tie and no away goals to separate pointing towards, penalties potentially, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

“Of course, it is necessary to prepare. But I hope it doesn’t come down to it. But it is necessary to work on these points and practice. We will have to decide the best players and also information for the goalkeeper.” Juan Ferrando concluded.

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