FC Goa travel to the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday to lock horns with ATK in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18’s first encounter of 2018. The Gaurs are in fantastic form, though their 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Pune City in their previous encounter is sure to weigh heavy on Sergio Lobera’s men.

Present at the pre-match press conference was the Gaurs’ assistant coach Derrick Pereira, who informed that the squad was free of injuries and that all the players were travelling with the team. When asked how they assess their opponent, he said, “About ATK, it is their home match and they have a good side. Every team is trying to settle down and find the right combination. As the competition progresses, the teams are getting settled. The same goes for us. We will definitely get better. It is an important match for us. Also, a different style of play which we will be facing, but we will focus on our style of playing and have a good game tomorrow.”

While commenting on Goa’s unwanted record that reads zero victories against ATK in eight attempts, Pereira added: “This season it (ATK) is a different team, it is a different and longer competition. Teams get enough time to prepare, teams get enough time to analyse opponents and this season it is a different set of players and a different coach. I think it (record) can change tomorrow.”

Goa succumbed to their second defeat of the season and failed to find the back of the net for the first time in the ongoing campaign last time around. The players and staff, however, don’t want to read too much into it. “There is always an off day in the office. Not that we didn’t do well. We did well in that match, as well. We had our chances which we did not take,” he explained. “There were also some decisions which went against us. But I think this happens in football. We have to forget all about that and get back to our winning ways. The players are doing very well and they are working hard to get back to winning ways, and stick to our style and formation and enjoy playing football which is possession-based. We like to keep possession and we are an attack-minded team. Hopefully, we will get back to our winning ways tomorrow.”

On being asked what strategy the league’s top-scoring team with 18 goals to their name will have on Wednesday, he revealed, “I think we will stick to our game plan and the way we play. We have learned from our mistakes earlier. We focussed more on the attack so we got punished at the back. We made some mistakes but right now we have learned and have worked towards tightening things up at the back. We have seen what we need to do. We are aware of ATK’s attacking style and we have worked towards it.”