FC Goa boss Juan Ferrando expects same intensity as last year Vs MCFC

The Gaurs failed to beat the Islanders even once in four meetings last season.

The eighth edition of the Indian Super League has been underway and we have already witnessed two mouthwatering and high-scoring games on the first two matchdays. FC Goa will begin their campaign against defending champions Mumbai City at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. A day before the scintillating encounter, the FC Goa coach Juan Ferrando and captain Edu Bedia addressed the media in their first pre-match press conference:

On Mumbai City's new head coach & team

Mumbai City have had a new managerial appointment ahead of this season. People have been assuming the advantages or the disadvantages FC Goa may encounter against their rivals.

Juan Ferrando felt the new coach Des Buckingham has a good resume. “In my point of view, more or less, it’s a good CV. The head coach is now thinking in the same way like the former coach and working more or less in the same style.”

Ferrando also added about their opponents on Monday, “Regarding the team, except Hugo (Boumous) and Le Fondre (Adam), they have the same squad. Of course, they also have Apuia helping as the midfielder. But, more or less, it’s the same style. There will be some change in details because every coach is different. But, in my point of view, tomorrow’s game will be of the same way like last season.”

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On Igor Angulo

Igor Angulo was an important cog in the FC Goa squad last season. He also went on to bag the Golden Boot after finishing as the joint-top scorer with 14 goals. This season however, the tables have turned and the 37-year-old has joined Mumbai City. On him the FC Goa tactician said, “Everybody knows Igor. He is a good No. 9.

"Inside the penalty box, his efficiency is 100%. But, for us, our plan is to work as a team. Our attention will not only be on Igor, but rather on the entire Mumbai City team because they have a good squad. We have all respect for Mumbai because at this moment, they are the champions. I trust in my team 100% and I am happy because they are working so hard in the pre-season and they are ready to play tomorrow.”

On AFC Champions League experience

FC Goa had won the League Winners’ Shield in 2019/20 and earned themselves a spot in the AFC Champions League. The side performed well in the prestigious competition, securing three draws in their six appearances. The 40-year-old opined, “The AFC Champions League was an amazing experience for us.

"I think everybody knows this experience for us was important because we know that if at this moment we are working as a team then our expectations are so high. We can improve, work and also if we are working like a team, we will know our limits. I think this is most important for us. Of course, in my point of view, it is possible to be in the AFC Champions League every season. Make sure that they (players) are enjoying and then the most important part, we can learn a lot in every game."

Expectations on Airam Cabrera

In order to make amends in their attacking third after the departure of Angulo, the Gaurs have secured the signature of another Spanish frontman, Airam Cabrera. Juan Ferrando expressed his expectations from the striker, “Firstly, to help the team when we are working in the build-up. I also think it’s important to help in pressing, when we are deciding to press high and control the timing. This is the target for us. My expectation is not only with goals because last season there was Jorge (Ortiz), Romario (Jesuraj). This season we have Chothe (Makan), Redeem (Tlang).

"We got wingers, got a good number of players like Glan (Martins), Alberto (Noguera), (Muhammed) Nemil. We have a lot of options and in this case, I’m not so scared about the goals. For me, the two more important targets are to help in pressing and to help in the build-up and in this case, I am happy about his job.”

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On Devendra Murgaonkar

Ishan Pandita scored four goals last season for the Gaurs, each of them as a substitute. He had 131 minutes to his name. But, this season, the Indian forward has departed and FC Goa now have a new forward in the making, Devendra Murgaonkar. Devendra was exceptional in the Durand Cup, where he scored five goals. He even scored one goal in the previous edition of the Indian Super League, an equalizer against SC East Bengal.

Juan Ferrando expressed his happiness about the young forward and commented, “Firstly, he understands our style. He wants to learn. In every training session, he is incredible. He is working hard and he’s not thinking only about goals. He knows his position is important to work in defence; when we decide to press high or second-press. Also, he understands it is important to control the spaces.

“I am happy about Devendra because he is improving every day and also I hope game-by-game, training-by-training, if he wants to help the team for 10 minutes, five minutes or 90 minutes, he is ready. I hope Devendra can improve a lot and will be like a reference in FC Goa,” stated the tactician.

Pre-season Takeaways

Talking about pre-season takeaways, the tactician claimed its importance. “The pre-season is important because this is the moment to work with the team. It is the moment to improve tactically. For me, the pre-season is not only thinking about the physical conditions. I am happy because the club helped the coaching staff to be ready in August. Secondly, I am happy because the foreign players decided to join the team so early.”

"The coaching staff are working, but also it’s very important for the foreign players. Day-by-day in the pitch they can help, they can improve with the team and they can work like a teacher for the rest of the players. I’m happy for this point.”

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On Indian contingent

Apart from praising the foreigners, Juan Ferrando also seemed happy about the improvement of his Indian contingent. He stated, “The players are improved. I think it’s important to work more in the academies than in the first-team because some players have the quality or have the talent to participate in the first-team in the ISL.

"But sometimes in tactical decisions, they are not good because they have no experience in the academies, they don’t learn and it’s difficult. It’s important to focus on the future work in academies because they need to learn, they need to take a new experience. In FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC, they are working in academies because they know this is the future.”

On game against Mumbai City

Mumbai City and FC Goa have an intense rivalry. Juan Ferrando was in full praise of both the teams. “I think tomorrow will be a good game because both teams want to play in attack (attacking football), both teams have a good squad, good players, technical players, talented players. Our plans I think is to play in attack, build-up, high press. Surely, tomorrow people can watch a beautiful game and in my point of view, we want to take the first three points,” he said.

Apart from Juan Ferrando, Edu Bedia was also present at the press conference.

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Rivalry with Mumbai City

The Gaurs have shared a rivalry with the Islanders. In the recent past, we have seen an exodus of players and staff from Goa to Mumbai. Bedia stated about the rivalry, “We have to think about ourselves and not the rivals whether it is Mumbai, East Bengal or ATK Mohun Bagan.

"I know last year our rivalry was with Mumbai City because some players and staff moved from Goa to Mumbai. But, we don’t think about these things. We have to think about the game tomorrow and our game (how FC Goa play).”

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