Bengaluru FC’s debut in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) couldn’t have gotten off to a better start after the Blues registered back-to-back wins from their opening two fixtures of Hero ISL 2017-18. The Blues beat Mumbai City FC 2-0 in the opening match of their campaign before dismantling Delhi Dynamos FC 4-1 at home. Their upcoming fixture on Thursday against Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru in Fatorda, however, will be Bengaluru’s first away game of the season and their head coach Albert Roca is expecting a tough encounter against the Gaurs, who are coached by Sergio Lobera – a man Roca knows from his time in Barcelona.

“It is going to be a very tough game. Goa has a Catalan coach who was in the same team as I was in Barcelona, so we have a very similar idea of football, possession and pressing high. So, these are the things which they (Goa) have also shown in their two games. Goa has impressed me more than any other team, even though they lost their previous game; they deserved to get some points, even a win (maybe). It’s not easy but sometimes it happens. But Goa are one of the favourites to finish in the top four this season,” Roca told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

The Spaniard, in fact, believes that Goa are one of the favourites for the title this season. “We know it’s going to be tough, we are going to try and get points because we are in a good position and we will try to take advantage. Tomorrow will be a very tough game. Goa have shown that they are very skilful, they have very good Spanish players that makes this team one of the favourites to win the title. But we will be ready for a big battle tomorrow and we will try to do our best and let’s see what happens,” Roca said.

However, when it was suggested that Bengaluru must surely be favourites to win the league after their strong start to the season, Roca was quick to play down his side’s chances. “Let’s be honest, we played very well in two games and I would just like to win tomorrow. Even a point would be good for us. Circumstances can change in football, so it’s impossible to win all the games. But with only two games gone, that is not in our minds. Let’s see what happens tomorrow,” he said.

Roca continued: “The game is away, I have to rotate and change players. It’s important to be in the top four to reach the semi-finals, but there is still a long way to go and it is not going to be easy for any of the teams here in the Indian Super League. The more you are the favourite for something, the less likely you are to show your skills. I will be very upset if one of my players thinks that way.”

When asked if playing away from home can affect his team’s form, Roca added: “Climate can change the performance a little. Here the humidity is much more than in Bengaluru. There are different circumstances though, there is no team in the world that can play (in the same manner) home and away. You can feel the change because of the home support, anything can change. I hope that the climate will not be too much of a circumstance for us.”