FC Goa overcame defending champions ATK in a comprehensive 5 – 1 victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18. The three points ensure that the Gaurs now occupy the fourth position in the league standings, where a win or draw against their next opponents Jamshedpur FC will seal them a semi-final berth.

After the hosts dominating display, their head coach Sergio Lobera spoke to the media during the post-match press conference, where he admitted that though no performance could be perfect, he was pleased with the form his team displayed on the pitch. “I don’t think perfection exists; there are always things and aspects we can improve upon,” he stated. “But it is true that I am very happy with the performance that my players put out there today. I think the football that we played today and with the mentality that we had, we read the first part of the game very well.”

He further added, “We were taking on a team that was going through a negative phase and it was important that we begin the match well. I am happy with the result and the performance of the players, but the most important thing now is the match that comes up next week (against Jamshedpur).”

The Spaniard also highlighted the fact that his team had control over the majority of the game. “I think we had control of the game, had the best chances and were effective in making sure we scored the goals,” inferred Lobera. “I am very happy with the way our team started the match and finished the game. During the middle, it got a little taxing on us. But it’s also normal because we are coming after having played a lot of games in a very little time. Now, the important thing is to ensure that the team recovers in time for the next match.”

The 41-year-old ended by lauding the character of his team who picked up their form after going through a lean phase in between. “It is true that we were not at our best during the phase where we got just two points from five games,” he remarked. “We deserved a lot more. I think the start of the season was very good for us. But the most important aspect of the season is that the team knew how to put themselves out there, which was last week. We have 27 points, which is a good tally. The most important thing is that in these last two matches, we have recovered the sensation in the team.”