FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez expressed his satisfaction with the team’s impressive display on Saturday, as the Gaurs clinched a commanding 3-0 victory over the Blues at Fatorda Stadium.

Dominant throughout the match against the league leaders, the hosts struck three times in the second half, with goals from Armando Sadiku, Brison Fernandes, and Dejan Drazic. This marked FC Goa's first home win and Bengaluru FC's first loss of the season.

The Gaurs’ defence showcased resilience and composure, securing their first clean sheet of the season.

Speaking on his team’s performance in the post-match press conference, Marquez remarked,

“My feeling is the same as before the game. I think we deserve more points than we currently have. It's true that our performance today was okay.”

“We didn't concede chances to a very strong team like Bengaluru FC. We are scoring practically every game. I mentioned in the press conference that, in my opinion, we are having very good moments in attack. We scored three goals again, but I believe that we were the better team and deserved to win clearly.”

The Gaurs face a swift turnaround as they prepare to host a formidable Punjab FC on Wednesday. Sitting third in the table with four wins from five games, Punjab FC promises to be a strong challenge for FC Goa.

Asked about possible changes to manage the tight schedule, Marquez responded, “They (the players) ran a lot today, and we also have good players on the bench. I doubt that I will repeat the same team because we need to utilize more players since they have enough quality."

Bengaluru FC entered the match on an impressive run, showcasing strength in both offence and defence. Yet, the Gaurs, determined to turn around their inconsistent form, executed their coach’s plan brilliantly and secured all three points. Their display on the night is sure to lift their confidence for the matches to come.

Asked about the tactical approach, Marquez commented,

“Bengaluru FC are a team that play differently in attack and defence. They play with an attacking style using only three centre-backs, and when they defend, they try to set up in a 4-4-2 diamond formation, more or less. We analyze how opponents like Mumbai City FC, Punjab FC, and Kerala FC play in different ways against them.”

“Then we decided to try to limit (Alberto) Noguera and (Pedro) Capo, especially since both players interact a lot with the ball, and Pereyra (Diaz), Sunil (Chhetri), and Edgar (Mendez) receive the ball from these two players. I think that the job of Ayush (Dev Chhetri) for me was key in the game,” he added.

"And (Mohammad) Yasir (came) after the injury and Brison (Fernandes) with this goal and obviously, Dejan (Drazic). I am speaking about the players that we tried to block the build-up of Bengaluru FC. And I think that they understood the game very well. Sometimes the score is good and sometimes you don't get the results that you try. But I feel again that the season will be good," Marquez signed off.

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