FC Goa manager Zico has made his strategy very clear ahead of his team’s Hero Indian Super League Season 2 opener against Delhi Dynamos FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. “Put pressure from the word go. When the ball is in the defence area, all 11 will defend and when it’s in the attack area, all will attack. Individuals can win games, but not without help from team-mates,” Zico told reporters on Saturday.

On his team’s style of play which has been a subject of speculation over the last few weeks, the Brazilian clarified: “There has been talk of playing style being Brazilian because we have a lot of them [Brazilian players] in our team, but I don’t find the need to. We did well last year with a great mix of Indian, Brazilian, Spanish and Portuguese.”

Zico’s FC Goa finished second in the league stage last year but lost to eventual champions Atlético de Kolkata in the semifinals. Zico admitted the team was under pressure to win the tournament. “People all over India have huge expectations from FC Goa, which is unfair, they can’t put so much pressure on one team. Of course we would love to win and play good football,” he said.

FC Goa had the better of Delhi Dynamos FC last season, winning both home (2-1) and away (4-1) encounters convincingly but this time the Lions have reinforced their squad greatly, bringing in past masters like marquee player-cum-coach Roberto Carlos, Florent Malouda and John Arne Riise. When asked how he rated his squad against that of Delhi, Zico said:  “I don’t like to compare. Both have a desire to win, both teams are in good spirits. I have expectations from them [FC Goa], not as individuals but as a team.”

Asked what he thought of fellow Brazilian Carlos from the rival camp, Zico said: “I have great expectations of him [Carlos]. He’s a good player, and a very jolly human being.”

“[But] As a coach he can’t know more than me,” he added in jest.