FC Goa head coach Derrick Pereira has plans in place to put FC Goa back among the lethal teams in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), as his side faces Kerala Blasters FC in match 46 of the Hero ISL 2021-22 season on Sunday at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa.

Pereira reflected on his side’s past few performances and urged his team to better themselves through each passing game. The newly appointed FC Goa coach also wants them to focus on their style of play against past Kerala Blasters FC on Sunday.

Ahead of their clash against Kerala Blasters FC, the Gaurs’ head coach along with midfielder Muhammed Nemil addressed the media during a pre-match press conference.

Here are the excerpts from Pereira’s press conference:

Kerala Blasters FC have attacking players who constantly possess threat on the opposition's defense. How do you plan to counter them tomorrow?

Pereira: Kerala Blasters FC are in good form right now. We have improved our defensive organization since the last few matches. After analysing our last match, we had better defensive organization and we gave away very few chances and created many more chances. So, there was improvement from our previous match. We’ll go with the same attitude to manage Kerala Blasters’ attacking unit while also focusing on an overall improvement of our performance.

With the signing of new centre-back Anwar Ali, how would he further add qualities to the side’s defensive organization?

Pereira: We get more options with him inside the team. We can work with different formations, play in a 4-2-3-1 style of play. At the moment, we know he’s working hard, he gives that extra strength where we can focus on other areas with him. I’ve spoken to him, and he knows what is required of him.

How do you rate Kerala Blasters FC?

Pereira: Every team in this league is a competitive one, and every match you face is a different match. Kerala have some good strikers upfront and are very well-organized. We have to counter their style of play by focusing more on our game and also by taking care of the little details, putting up a good performance and getting those three points.

How are you planning for the end of the season? And are there any incomings from the transfer market?

Pereira: We want to get back to our old self where we play our style, where we dominate the matches and win matches. There was a setback in the beginning of the season, there were other reasons like players getting injured, not getting enough time to recover.

Right now, we’re trying to get everybody in good shape, to see that we have enough experience on the bench as well as in the playing XI. It's an ongoing process and we’re improving match by match.

Here are the excerpts from Nemil’s press conference:

In a team full of youngsters, how do you plan to compete with others and become a regular in the sport?      

Nemil: I just do my thing. I don’t look at others. Whatever I do, I give my best. So, it’s on the coach whether he wants me on the pitch or on the bench to give me my minutes. I just do my things.

It’s not easy for a 19-year-old to be playing in the ISL. Having started early, how do you keep yourself grounded? And do you feel the pressure at times?

Nemil: Here the coaches and everyone else tell me that they don’t see me as a 19-year-old. They see me like the rest of the players. So, I have to do the same things as the other players. In my mind, I don’t think I’m a 19-year-old.

Not really, I don’t feel the pressure so much. As I’ve said before, I don’t really look at the comments even if they are positive or negative, I just give my best in the training ground and during the match.