FC Goa host Bengaluru FC in their first home fixture of Hero Indian Super League 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday. The Gaurs began their campaign with a win against Chennaiyin FC, but were edged by Mumbai City FC in their previous encounter.

Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference was Goa head coach Sergio Lobera, who insisted that Bengaluru are the in-form team in the league. “They (Bengaluru) are a strong team, in the two games that they have played, they have showed that they are the team with the best form. They have showed that they are the strongest team so far,” he said.

The Spanish coach also defended his goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani, who has been culpable for a few goals conceded by the Gaurs this season. “For me, Kattimani is a fantastic goalkeeper, come to us at the end of the league, and I am sure that if we do a balance of how many points we might have lost or how many we might have gained because of him, you will see that we come out in favour of how many he has gained for us. I believe in him completely and utterly.”

“It is very easy to criticise goalkeepers, because they are always in the spotlight. But my faith in him continues to stay as it was on day one, and will continue to stay that way till the end of the season. When the season is coming towards the end, the result that all of us will see is that Kattimani is a great goalkeeper,” Lobera said.

When asked for his thoughts on his opposite number in the dugout, Lobera said: “Albert Roca is a fine coach, and I know him since our time in Barcelona. Knowing how his team is going to play, and knowing how our team is going to play, it’s going to be an open match where both teams are going to look for chances. And I think it is all going to come down to the finer details of who will take their chances in front of goal, and that will decide the game.”

The 40-year-old also stressed the need to entertain the Goa supporters. “I have the belief that first we have to always give the fans (something) before asking for anything in return. So tomorrow, we will try and put on the best possible show for them, and try and entertain them, because my aim is to ensure that the fans go back home happy with the result and the way that we play. Through the long season, there will be good moments and bad moments, and we will hope that we will do it all together,” Lobera said.

Playmaker Brandon Fernandes accompanied Lobera to the press conference and spoke about how he’s relishing the opportunity to play under the Spaniard. “I am very lucky to be a part of FC Goa and playing under Sergio Lobera. He has a different philosophy, different tactics, different plans and different ideas. So, this is new for me, and I am very happy to be training under him,” Fernandes said.