We need to be consistent and be at our best levels: FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena
Addressing the media in the post match conference, Pena talked about the team's need to keep the same intensity to shut down the games better, How important Edu Bedia is for the team and he's happy with 18 points in the first half of the season.
FC Goa head coach Carlos Pena demanded his team to show consistency and be on their best level after the Gaurs claimed all the three points against NorthEast United FC with a 2-1 win at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Goa, in the latest fixture of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday.
Two goals in the first 20 minutes by Edu Bedia and Iker Guarrotxena helped Pena's men claim their fourth victory at home as the team climbed to the fifth spot on the Hero ISL points table. Meanwhile, NorthEast United continue to stay at the bottom spot as the Highlanders continue their search for their first win of the season under new manager Vincenzo Annese.
Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, Pena spoke about his team keeping the same levels of intensity and the need close down the games better, the importance of Edu Bedia to the team, and more.
4⃣ wins in 5⃣ home games 🏚️🧡#ForcaGoa #UzzoOnceAgain #FCGNEU #HeroISL pic.twitter.com/F2Hobtd2GZ
— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) December 17, 2022
Here are the excerpts from Pena's press conference:
Can you sum up what went right in the game and some of the things you can improve?
Before the game all of us knew that it's going to be a difficult game because when you play against a team that's playing with pressure it is difficult because they didn't do anything. They didn't have anything to lose, they are not looking at the standings. They came here to play the game and prove themselves and it's not easy. If anyone was expecting an easy game, he was wrong.
We started the game very well, we created chances, we took advantage of the space they let us (attack) behind their back four, but after 2-0, we couldn't keep the same intensity and I think we lost the focus. We started losing so many common balls and we didn't play with the same intention. They performance before that period was good, we could've scored more goals in the second half because we created chances, but I'm not happy with the performance of the team. I'm happy for the victory and I'm happy that we got the three points, we can show our best level during the 90 minutes.
Edu Bedia came back and scored the goal and had a decent game. How do you sum up his performance and how important do you feel he is?
Edu (Bedia) is a very important player for us. He helped a lot in the game and then scored as well, and rest of the things he has to improve on but happy for him now. It was not easy the moment when he got the red card against Mumbai City FC. Today, he had the chance to play in starting eleven and he helped us to get the three points.
The team failed to keep a clean sheet in the match. Your thoughts?
No, I'm not angry. I'm not upset with the goal we conceded. I'm upset with the performance of my team during some minutes because we need to play better, we need to keep the same intensity and same way of playing for longer. I know it's not possible, but we start scoring two goals and then we don't do the same things that we were doing before, so that's something we need to talk about and improve. Of course, I give a lot of importance to these three points because many other teams have also suffered to beat NorthEast United FC. We finished the first part of the league with 18 points, in the group of top teams, fighting for the playoffs, fighting for the first position. I think the balance is very good now, so happy with the 18 points, happy for the win at home again. The four out of six wins have come at home, it's not coincidence, but knowing we have to improve.
Six wins and 18 points from the first 10 matches but still not in the top four, the team is very much in the running for the playoffs. What do you think the team needs to change or improve to take the club further than just fifth place?
I said before the game, we need consistency, we need to be on our best levels during more minutes in the game. Today, for example, we played brilliantly for the first 30 minutes and for the rest of the 60 minutes we were not so good. We didn't get punished but with another team, playing like this, we will get punished. It won't work for the rest of the league. We need to be consistent, we need to be at our best levels during more minutes and during more games, but I think we are in a good position. All the teams are very close with points tied up in fourth, fifth and sixth position. Now it's time to think about next game and to get the three points against Jamshedpur FC and keep moving.
