Five challenges Carlos Pena has to overcome to succeed at FC Goa

This will be the Spaniard's first senior team coaching experience.

On April 16, FC Goa declared Carlos Pena as their new head coach. The Gaurs didn’t enjoy a good Indian Super League season last time. They ended their league stage campaign in ninth position, with 19 points in 20 matches. Moreover, for the first time since 2016, FC Goa lost three consecutive matches at the start of the campaign and similarly, failed to qualify for the playoffs.

After coming on board, the expectations will be high on Pena, who once played for the same club. In this article, we will talk about the five challenges for Carlos Pena at FC Goa.

5. Bring back winning mentality

FC Goa won just four matches out of the 20 last season. Even SC East Bengal, a team that enjoyed just a single victory, earned it against the Gaurs. The team is supposedly shattered after a harsh season. Pena must explore the team in the pre-season and help the players to bring back the winning mentality. A team doesn’t win if it doesn’t believe it can.

The tactician has to restore that belief in the squad. In this matter, he will also require the help of senior players such as Brandon Fernandes and Edu Bedia (if he stays). As Pena has played with them before, it will be easier for them to come together and help the side in reviving their winning spirit.

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4. Ability of man-management

This will be the first time Carlos Pena will be in charge of a senior team. Back in Spain, he managed the youth team of Lorca, UCAM Murcia and Albacete Balompie. He was also the assistant coach at the Lleida Esportiu senior team. But, sitting in the driver’s seat of a top-tier club is different from training the youth team or being an assistant. As the Indian football circuit havn’t seen the man-management abilities of Carlos Pena, it is tough to comment on it.

But, Pena will surely require an ounce of that skill, since he’ll be having both youngsters and senior Indian players on the side. Moreover, he’ll perhaps also be having a number of new foreigners. Getting the right grip on the players will be vital in bringing out the best from them. Eventually, this will also help him to be on excellent terms with the players.

3. Making team more clinical upfront

FC Goa lacked a clinical No. 9 last season. Airam Cabrera scored just six goals in 13 appearances, which included a hat-trick against Kerala Blasters in their last fixture. Jorge Ortiz wasn’t available in every game either due to injuries or suspensions. However, Ortiz can be labelled as their best player last season. The 29-year-old had eight goals and five assists in 15 matches. Expecting Devendra Murgaonkar to take charge of the forward line this early in his career doesn’t seem to be a promising idea as well.

Speaking of the past, the Gaurs have never failed to bring in top forwards in the ISL. Be it Ferran Corominas or Igor Angulo, both of them have been Golden Boot winners with FC Goa in the competition. Pena needs to scout one or two top forwards for the upcoming season.

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A reason why a top-notch striker is important is that even if the team is having a hard day on the pitch, the forward can bag a goal out of nowhere and secure a victory. These points become extremely crucial towards the conclusion of the league stage. FC Goa have a fantastic scouting unit. They should work accordingly with Pena to bring in the forwards suitable for the club.

2. Ensuring Consistency

FC Goa lacked consistency throughout the season in ISL 2021-22. For example, Goa had beaten Chennaiyin FC 5-0 on February 9 and then failed to win their next three encounters. Carlos Pena needs to ensure that the Gaurs bring back their consistency since that will be effective in their qualification to the playoffs.

If we take a look at the 2021/22 ISL points table, we’ll notice all four playoff teams – Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters were consistent for a major part of the season. Yes, they lost a few games, but consistency prevailed throughout.

1. Coping with expectations

Goa is a football hub. The supporters of the club are extremely passionate. Carlos Pena’s biggest challenge will be to cope with the expectations. As Pena is one of their own, fans may expect that the Spaniard will guide the team to the playoffs. One thing which probably most of the fans and management will expect from him is that, if the team goes into the playoffs, they don’t stumble in that phase of the competition and return home without an accolade. He has already promised that he’ll work on it.

Pena needs to ensure that he remains honest in his work and gives his best for the club. A club with a huge fanbase will always have expectations and Pena is familiar with that. Hopefully, he’ll take the necessary measures to delight the fans.

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