Hyderabad FC head coach Manuel Marquez expressed that despite the different play styles of the two teams involved in their next match-up against FC Goa in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday at Athletic Stadium, Bambolim, the encounter will prove to be equally tough for both.

Marquez further stated that the workload of the players will need to be carefully managed as the season progresses with the fear of injury looming large. With some tough competition expected from FC Goa, Marquez also stated that the opponents have adapted well to bounce back after three straight losses.

Ahead of their clash with FC Goa, Manuel Marquez addressed the media during a pre-match press conference.

Here are the excerpts from the coach’s press conference:

The result in the last match propelled the team to a higher position in the league table. How crucial was that win? And what are the biggest learnings from that game?

I think all the results and the scores are crucial. If you win, if you draw, or if you lose. And more important in a competition with only 20 games. It was crucial because you prefer to win and than to lose. This is a short competition. Only one quarter of the competition is done and we have to continue. The biggest learning from the game is that we have to play with more continuity in 90 minutes. It's normal in football that there is the other team that scores, or when the other team arrives with clear chances, there are some moments that are difficult for the team. But we have to control this moment and try to play our style again.

FC Goa are on a two-match winning streak, what challenge will they pose to Hyderabad FC?

It's another game, another tough game. The normal thing is that Goa lost three consecutive games after they were unbeaten at the end of the last season for so many matches, now they changed the system in the last two games and they are playing good football. Every week I tell you that it will be tough for Hyderabad FC, but it will be tough for Goa too.

So, speaking about momentum in a league like this, how tough is it to maintain it? And how important is it to make the most of the good form given that the league will get tough with every passing game?

We are now third but even if we were 7, 8 or 9, we would say the same thing then. 20 games that we play every four or five days. If you look again at a lot of injuries in many players of all the teams, then it's impossible to know what will happen at the end of the competition.

So moments depend on if you have a lot of injuries or not, then this is another very important point and there's another thing that every game is very tough because it's not easy as you sometimes have to play with the minutes of the players and in one moment maybe you lose points. You cannot play every player for 90 minutes in every match till the end of the season.

What is your opinion on Aniket Jadhav’s performance so far this season?

I don't like to speak about one player, but he is correct and he is better. He has to understand some things because he arrives from one team who played a totally different style than us. Then, he has to know, which is the current movement in every situation.

Of course, he has very good qualities and he can usually decide which action he will do in terms of positioning. He has to improve some things. But I am happy with Aniket and with the other players that are playing for the first time in the team.