Bengaluru FC head coach Gerard Zaragoza shared his dissatisfaction with they way his team conceded from set pieces, following their 2-2 draw against FC Goa at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru in Saturday’s opener.

The Blues showcased a resilient performance in front of their home crowd as they came from a two-goal deficit to share spoils after an end-to-end encounter against the in-form Gaurs. Sandesh Jhingan’s headed opener and Sahil Tavora’s fantastic long-ranger handed the visitors a crucial 2-0 lead. However, Zaragoza’s men stood firm as they bounced back thanks to goals by Ryan Williams substitute Jorge Pereyra Diaz.

The Bengaluru FC head coach was not happy with how the way FC Goa scored the opener through Jhingan before conceding another goal from a throw in as Tavora doubled the away team's tally. With that, Zaragoza’s men have now conceded back-to-back goals from sets pieces, previously against Kerala Blasters FC in their last home match.

Zaragoza urged his players to stay more focused and concentrated in dead-ball situations and avoid conceding such goals.

“I'm not happy because we cannot receive this first goal. Again, we were very good in set pieces until four games ago, and now, in the last games, we receive one goal each game in set pieces, and that cannot be possible if we want to be on top,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“Then we did everything, everything to return to the game and (then) the second goal of them (by Tavora). But then, the players, the Kanteerava (crowd) and the people, they showed that they won. They showed that here, it's not easy to win for any club and for any coach. That's important,” he further added, showering praise on their loyal fanbase, who motivated the home team throughout the game with their vocal support.

The Blues kept five consecutive clean sheets in their opening five games, making a strong start in the ISL 2024-25 season. However, their defense has been leaking goals as they conceded 15 goals in their last seven matches.

While quizzed in this context, Zaragoza didn’t seem worried but rather shared his delight with how his players scored multiple goals in the matches, ultimately resulting in a win for them.

“No, I'm not disappointed. I'm so happy. In the first matches, we won 1-0, and the question was if we didn't attack enough. Now we are attacking; we score goals,” he acknowledged.

“Of course, we receive (goals) again, two goals. I'm not happy because we are receiving goals every match and not one. But we are arriving (in the box); we have goals. Today again, players like Jorge (Pereyra Diaz), Vinith (Venkatesh), and (Alberto) Noguera were very good on the pitch.. We have a lot of attacking players, and we could be proud of them,” he continued.

FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez mentioned that Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa are two of the teams that would surely finish in the top six and compete for the League Shield. The Bengaluru FC head coach was also asked about his suggestions on potential teams finishing in the top half of the league table and fighting for the League Shield.

Speaking in context, Zaragoza remarked,

“Listen, from July or August, no one is counting on Bengaluru FC. No one is counting on BFC, but we are there. We are there. But okay, he says two names. I'm going to say four.”

“I'm sure that we are going to be there. Sure, 100 percent. Mohun Bagan SG will be there. Odisha FC, for sure, and Punjab FC. In the other two spots, there are very good teams, very good teams that they are going to fight a lot. I mean, NorthEast United FC are going to fight a lot. Jamshedpur FC are going to fight a lot. I mean, no one will have the possibility to say, Yeah, I'm inside.”

Related tags:

Bengaluru FCFC Goa2024-2025