FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez is aware of the daunting challenge his team faces in the AFC Champions League Two but remains upbeat of the possibilities that lie ahead for his team as they prepare to face Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol in Hisor on Wednesday.

The Gaurs were beaten by Al Zawraa in their opening group match and need to bounce back to avoid getting into a precarious situation in terms of their qualification chances. The Spanish head coach is under no illusion of the difficulty of the task his team have in the next few matches in Asia.

“Realistically, Al Nassr will be the champions of this group. Nobody has doubt that they will win all or most games in the group. We have possibilities (to win and qualify) but I feel we have to grow and improve with every game,” Marquez told The Times of India in an interview.

The Gaurs gave a decent account of themselves in the first match edging the possession charts but were unable to convert it into attempts on goal as the opponents made their possession count.

The Spaniard feels every game in the competition is a lesson for the team which will make them better for future challenges.

“I think, more or less, everyone has the same assessment of the game: that we played a good, sometimes very good, game, particularly in the second half, created chances, but did not score,” he said.

“For me, what stands out is that our chances were always with opposition around (the ball). The only clear chance was of Ayush (Chhetri),” he added.

“The (AFC) Champions League games are very important. You either win or gain valuable experience. The team will be better-equipped to handle situations like the one we encountered against Al Zawraa. We are learning,” he continued.

‘Everything is possible’

FC Goa will be looking to defend their AIFF Super Cup crown next month but have been placed in a tough group alongside Durand Cup winners NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC and Inter Kashi.

Read: Teams find out group-stage opponents in AIFF Super Cup 2025-26

The Gaurs will have to quickly shift focus to the AIFF Super Cup, a competition that hands the winners qualification to the preliminary stage of next season’s AFC Champions League Two, a route Marquez’s team are too familiar with already. But the head coach is also aware of how difficult it is to repeat the heroics again.

“It’s difficult to qualify (for semi-finals of the AIFF Super Cup) but in football, everything is possible. For me, to play again in Asia, would be fantastic,” Marquez signed off.

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