FC Goa stayed in the hunt for their Indian Super League (ISL) League Shield with a 2-0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. At the post-match press conference, head coach Manolo Marquez reflected on the team’s tactical adjustments and praised his players for adapting mid-game.

The Gaurs seized control early in the second half, with Iker Guarrotxena slotting the ball into the bottom right corner in the 46th minute. Their momentum continued, and in the 73rd minute, Guarrotxena set up Yasir, who tapped in from close range to seal the result for FC Goa.

Yasir, who had been struggling on the right in the first half, thrived in a more familiar attacking midfield role. The change paid off almost immediately. Marquez began by highlighting the decisive tactical shift that altered the course of the game.

"The change of position among Udanta Singh, Mohammad Yasir, and Dejan Drazic was very important. In the first half, Udanta was not comfortable on the left, Yasir was not comfortable on the right, and Dejan was not comfortable in the middle. They played in different positions in the second half. Udanta is a better player on the right, and Dejan is a better player on the left," he explained.

This adjustment proved crucial, allowing the players to find their rhythm and contribute effectively. Reflecting on Yasir’s impact, Marquez admitted he might have misjudged the player's positioning earlier in the season. The coach emphasized that these adjustments were pivotal in breaking Kerala Blasters FC's resilience.

"It was only a change of position, and we scored immediately. Sometimes you can do different things and it doesn't work. But today, they were more comfortable in the second half, and practically when we scored the second goal, the game was over," he added.

With the win pushing FC Goa closer to securing a top-two finish, Marquez stressed that the journey was far from over.

"Our target today was to win the game, to continue. Let's see if tomorrow Odisha FC can get one or three points in Kolkata," he said.

Aware of the intense competition from Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC, who sit third and fourth in the standings, he noted, "They won, both teams won, and they are behind us...today we are one step closer to finishing at least in the top two. Everyone knows that to win the shield is very, very difficult."

Looking ahead to the final matches of the season, Marquez maintained a cautious optimism. "You know how we are, as coaches. I will tell you game by game. We need to go to Delhi and play against Punjab FC and try to win. To arrive in the top two, I think the season has been very, very good, especially considering how we started the competition," he stated.

Guarrotxena, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, suffered a head injury towards the end of the game. Marquez also addressed the injury of the Spaniard, revealing, "He's in the hospital (currently). We are a little worried. He wanted to continue but he was not able. He's dizzy, and the best thing when you have this kind of situation in the head is to go to the hospital and spend the night there."

Discussing FC Goa’s impressive scoring streak, which has seen them score in 21 consecutive games, Marquez expressed satisfaction with his team's attacking variety.

"When you don't score goals, the team is said to not have a proper striker. When you score a lot of goals, I prefer to have a lot of players who score goals. In my career, I have had even the top scorer in Spain in my team twice. But I have also had teams where a lot of players—centre-backs in set pieces, midfielders arriving from the second line, wingers like today with Yasir's goal at the second post—could contribute," he explained.

The coach also provided insight into Brison Fernandes’ development and physical struggles. The winger came on as a substitute, and he remains optimistic about Fernandes' future.

"We need to be calm with Brisson because, even physically, he's not in his best moment… He's a very important player for us. I think he is a player with a great future. If he's not there now, for sure in the future, he will be in the national team. I think that one day he will go to the national team."

FC Goa will next face Punjab FC on February 27, aiming to solidify their position near the top of the ISL table.

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Manolo MárquezFC Goa2024-2025