Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 will be Edu Bedia’s fourth season with FC Goa. The Spanish midfielder has played 51 matches for the Gaurs so far and has contributed nine goals as well as nine assists in those games besides also acting as a defensive screen for the backline when required.

However, he will have the added responsibility of leading Goa this season after his team-mates voted for him to be their captain. Skippering a team won’t be new to Bedia, though, since he’s captained a few clubs in Spain in the past.

"I have been with this team for a while and that experience was obviously there. My job as a captain is simple – to try and help the team as much as possible. I have been captain at a couple of clubs in Spain as well. There is obviously responsibility but no pressure,” timesofindia.indiatimes.com quoted Bedia as saying.

Bedia went on to reveal that he isn’t the only player that has been entrusted with leading the side and explained why it’s a ‘collective responsibility’. "I'm there with the three other captains [Lenny Rodrigues, Seriton Fernandes and Ivan Gonzalez] who have been elected to help the team. It's a collective responsibility of the team to understand the dressing room and help each and every individual in the team," the Spaniard said.

Hero ISL 2019-20 saw Bedia net just once and provide two assists as his appearances were restricted to 13 games. However, the 31-year-old isn’t dwelling much on those displays and believes that bad form is something every player experiences at some point in their careers.

“A footballer does not always have top seasons. Sometimes there are highs, sometimes lows. That’s the normal topography of a football player’s career. Sometimes it can be injuries, or other things when you have a tough season,” said Bedia.

Looking ahead to the new campaign, Bedia was satisfied with the intensity of pre-season training under head coach Juan Ferrando. “Obviously, we have had strength in the team last year as well, but that extra rhythm can come in handy towards the fag end of the season in getting us to the final. There is intensity in our training sessions. We are working a lot on the tactical elements this year and this will make us stronger than we were last season,” the Spaniard asserted.

FC Goa begin their Hero ISL 2020-21 campaign with a clash against Bengaluru FC at the Fatorda Stadium on November 22.