Last season’s debutants Jamshedpur FC begin their 2018-19 campaign of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) with a trip to the west coast to face Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Tuesday. Under new head coach Cesar Ferrando, Jamshedpur are expected to pose a sterner challenge when they take to the pitch this season.

Ahead of the club’s season opener, indiansuperleague.com caught up with their new Spanish recruit Sergio Cidoncha to uncover his thoughts on his new team and their opponents of the night. Here are the excerpts:

How are you feeling ahead of your Hero ISL debut?
I feel like starting the match tomorrow. It’s my first match in the Indian league and I want to start. I am very excited to start my journey.

Is there any strategy in place for Mumbai?
Yes, the team has a strategy and I hope that tomorrow, we do good.

On head coach Cesar Ferrando.

Well, Cesar is a good coach. I was with him four years ago and I think that he is good for us because he wants to keep possession. We like it. 

How are you getting along with your new teammates?
I think that we are a good group and all the relationships are good. I have a good relationship with the Spanish players because of the language, but I have a good relationship with other teammates as well because they are very friendly. 

How is India treating you? What is the one thing you like most about the country?
Very good. India is very good. I love to see the city when I am in the bus, travelling. I want to learn about the culture and the people to know about India.

Message for Jamshedpur FC fans.
The Jamshedpur FC fans are very good. We have very good work on when we reach the complex and I hope that the result is good. I want them to support us and I hope that we give them a good result.