Here to show everybody who I am, says FC Goa's Airam Cabrera

The striker sounded confident on facing the challenges that he will come across in the ISL.

FC Goa’s latest import Airam Cabrera recently spoke to the media during a digital round-table conference, about his signing and the season ahead.

The Spaniard was asked about the reasons for his inconsistency over the last two seasons and his thoughts on joining FC Goa. He said, “Of course, it’s not a secret that during the last two seasons I haven’t scored a lot. Even I didn’t play as usual as I would've liked. But, you know, this is football, sometimes some seasons are like this. To be honest, in our careers, you have like 12-14 seasons as a professional footballer. But, you will remember four, maybe five, if you’re lucky. So, most of them are like all the time, going on, going up and going down, so you have to prepare for it."

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"I’m still hungry. I want to show it to everybody who is Airam Cabrera. So, I'm here to do it, you know. I’m very happy to have joined FC Goa. I would like to thank the fans and the club for the warm welcome. I’m really hungry because of the lack of success in the last two seasons," he further added.

Feedback from other ISL players

The ISL has always been a home away from home for Spanish players and Cabrera spoke about the feedback he got from his friends who have played in the league before.

“I spoke to my big friend, Javi (Hernandez) from Odisha. He told me that FC Goa has the perfect style of play for my skills and it was a big step for me to go forward with my decision. Because, first of all you have to be comfortable on the team with the style. This is something that was against me last season, because the team played a style totally opposite to mine. It was really good feedback with Javi, and then I spoke with Ivan (Gonzalez) as well.

"Everything was really good. Plus, Ravi’s conversations were, of course, really good as well. What the club shows me from the beginning for me was really important, how they were interested in me. For me, that was really important and that's why I’m here,” the striker replied.

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Challenge to replace Corominas, Angulo

Out of the last four ISL Golden Boots, FC Goa strikers have taken home three of them. "You cannot feel like an extra pressure. But, you have to feel like it’s a responsibility. Of course, I know the numbers, but I don’t want that people compare and say that Airam is the new (Igor) Angulo or the new Coro (Ferran Corominas). I have big respect for them because I know them really well, as players. But, I’m here just for helping the team you know, I don’t care about the numbers. Of course, I want to help as much as much as possible with numbers, but mainly I want to help the team. I’m here just to give what coach wants from me," Airam Cabrera said.

"Numbers, of course are important and will come for sure if you play in a good way. But, it’s not something that I lose sleep over. So yes, I just need to go forward and help the team,” he added.

Adapting to varying football cultures

Adapting to new circumstances is always a bit tough for footballers. Hence, the 33-year-old was asked about how he has adapted to the conditions in all the countries he has played in.

“I always say that when you leave your country, the most important thing is to adapt to your teammates of the country, the culture. So, this is my target - to arrive in India and try to be a part of them as fast as possible. For me, what is most important is what you do outside of the pitch with your teammates, so I will try to do it like this,” he stated.

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Cabrera also spoke about his first conversation with head coach Juan Ferrando and said, “Firstly, he told me about the bio-bubble life because for the first time I’m going to be a part of it. He prepared me for it. We talked about football and he told me about what I’m going to find in India and in the team."

The club's Director of Football Ravi Puskur had previously mentioned that FC Goa have been keeping tabs on the striker for the last three years. Hence, Airam Cabrera was asked about when the club officially established contact with him.

“It was three weeks ago when we started to speak. But, to be honest, it was a really quick conversation. Yes, on my side I had to think a lot, but the club was really clear all the time. So, I just had to think because my wife is pregnant right now. So, that’s why it took a bit longer, but that's it. Finally, I’m here, I’m really happy to go forward to achieve as much success as possible,” he concluded.

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