Odisha FC will be aiming to go level on points with ATK FC when they travel to face Hyderabad FC at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium on Wednesday. The Bhubaneswar-based outfit have picked up 12 points from their last five matches and are currently one of the most in-form teams in Hero Indian Super league (Hero ISL) 2019-20.

At the pre-match press conference, Odisha head coach Josep Gombau, however, advised his players to not get too far ahead of themselves and take each game as it comes. “It is very important for us to go game-by-game. This is the way we approach (games). We have six games (left to play) and we will try to do our best in every single game. After that, when we finish, we will see in which position we are,” Gombau said.

“I don’t want to put my players under pressure. We have a young squad. This is the way we approach every single game in this league. At one point, our aim was to reach the top four. We are in it, but there are six more games to go,” he added.

The Spaniard also felt that Hyderabad’s players will be extra motivated to make a good impression given the recent appointment of Albert Roca as the club’s head coach, starting from next season. “They have a new coach coming in. He already knows more or less about the league. He will be watching the game and the players will want to improve and perform in front of the coach.”

“Probably a different coach will take the team forward till the end of the season. He will also bring his own ideas and for us, it’s a little bit uncertain. I will say to my players that we will have to play our football and try to beat the opponents. It will be a challenging game for us because when there are changes, the players are more eager to prove themselves to the new coach,” opined Gombau.

Further stressing the significance of the encounter, the 43-year-old voiced, “For us, it is a very important game. We need to try to win as many matches as possible. We work hard and the boys are ready. Everybody is concentrated. We know it is not easy. No game in the Hero ISL is easy. I think it will be a game that if we have to win, we need to put all our talent and 100% in the game.”

Winger, Jerry Mawihmingthanga was seated alongside Gombau at the media gathering and the youngster revealed that the mood inside the Odisha camp was quite pleasant ahead of Wednesday’s clash. “Since, the first day of the season and pre-season, we have had ups and downs, but we have stuck together as a team. We have learned from our mistakes. Senior players are the ones who pick us up when we are down. The team environment is really good. We have a positive mood and we are willing to give more for the team,” said Jerry.

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