Bengaluru FC take on FC Goa for their first Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20 match of the new year at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. The defending champions will look to improve their scoring record against table toppers FC Goa after a 1-0 loss to ATK FC in their previous fixture.

At the pre-match press conference, Bengaluru head coach Carles Cuadrat spoke about their upcoming challenge against Goa, “Games against Goa are always interesting. There is a lot of things happening always. Like the late goal in the final, or the penalty in the last match. We can expect anything from the game. Their players have been more or less the same (as that of last season).”

He added, “We are having a good season, quite similar to the last season. The team has been mentally, physically and tactically good enough to keep getting the points and staying in the playoff positions. Football is all about balance and we have been well balanced for the last two seasons to stay fighting for the playoff positions and I am happy for that.”

The Spanish head coach then reflected on his side’s loss to ATK last time around and spoke of the importance of scoring first, he said, “When you are leading, it becomes simple because all you need to do is defend and hit the opponents on the counter. With very good players and coaches, it is a very psychological game; even against ATK, we controlled them although they have been strong at home. We waited for them to tire out and hit them on the counter. But after they scored in the beginning of the second half, we tried different things but unfortunately, we were unable to score. The team was fighting for the points. It was a top match in a top league.”

Cuadrat also explained why he’s been so reluctant to use more youngsters this season. “We have a squad of 25 players, who are all doing their work. Until now I haven’t given opportunities for too many players in the bench because we have a lot of players who do not have enough experience to be in games where there is a lot of pressure. We have to be careful about the younger players because this season is different from the last one in the sense that we have been getting a lot of points in the last minutes of the game. We are creating the chances, but we need to finish those chances.”

Read the Match Preview here.