FC Goa face Delhi Dynamos FC in the 2015 Hero Indian Super League’s first semi-final clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday. The Gaurs will come into the game with plenty of confidence after beating the Lions 3-2 in the last game of the league stage. Spaniard Joffre, who scored the winner for the Gaurs in that match, spoke to indiansuperleague.com in an exclusive chat and shared his thoughts on the first leg of the semi-final on Friday. Here are the excerpts from the interview.You’ve been at this stage of the tournament before, playing for Atlético de Kolkata. How are you feeling doing the same with another team this season?I remember that last season we reached the semis at the last minute. This time it’s been much more assured. And I remember I was injured in the semis. But this time I’m just focusing on the team’s chances. We’re all coming from a tough schedule with lots of matches. I don’t remember the feelings from last season, but I guess it’s not so different.You’ve won against Delhi twice already. How much confidence does that give you?It’s better than losing two matches. But we know, especially this season, every match is different. You win against a team today but two weeks later you can lose. We lost against Mumbai but the next time we faced them we beat them 7-0. So now we must be very careful. Our opposition is not going to be easy. The last two matches against them, it only helps as a reference that we know more about them and how they play but it’s not going to be the same because it can change in seconds.How much of a difference have you seen in the league this season?There are a couple of big improvements. Firstly, the Indian players. Last season they were good but I think this season they have grown and become better. It’s good for Indian football and the league in general. And the other is that the teams are evenly-matched. All the teams have good players. All the squads are more competitive."All the teams have good players. All the squads are more competitive."JoffreAny Indian player who has stood out for you?In our team we have a lot of good players. But I don’t want to name one player. In other teams, you can see, of course [Sunil] Chettri showed his level and Robin Singh for Delhi but not just these two. Maybe that’s because they are strikers and they get noticed more. Sanju Pradhan for NorthEast United FC has been good, so have been Mohammed Rafi from Kerala and Arata Izumi from Kolkata.Which player has been the toughest to play against, for you?For sure, Borja Fernandez from Atlético de Kolkata.What will be Goa’s approach in the first leg tomorrow?We’ve shown that we play all the matches in the same way. We are not a defensive team and everyone knows it. It’s Zico’s decision but tomorrow we must not start in a very attacking way and concede because of that. I don’t know the first 11 but according to me, we must take advantage of our home match in Goa later but I am sure we are not going to the pitch to defend or play for a draw. We are attacking, our players try to score. We will just play our natural game. Maybe take a little more care.
