04 Dec 2021  |   05:30am IST

Reboot, restart

After sloppy start, Gaurs look to navigate back on track
Reboot, restart

ALLAN VALENTINO D’CRUZ

PANJIM: Two defeats in two games. FC Goa know this is not what they expected at the start of the season, and nor did we. Having retained core players and even signed a couple of foreign stars as replacements to the outgoing players, FC Goa just couldn’t replicate last season’s performances.

The Gaurs now look to wipe off and forget the past as they 'reboot, restart' their ISL campaign against NorthEast United as a win on Saturday at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, will help the Guars navigate back on track.

Juan Ferrando’s side have been doing exactly the same thing they did last season. Enjoying maximum possession and passes, but the issue is they haven’t been able to convert these into opportunities and goals. So far, they have managed the least shots on target. It’s the goals which win you matches and not possession and passing.

Defensively, a lot of questions were raised regarding the team selections. Irrespective of the squad selection, the Gaurs need to improvise a lot especially on the set pieces. FC Goa conceded six goals in 180 minutes. Of which, four have come from the set pieces. There is a good chance that head coach, Juan Ferrando, will give Dylan Fox his first start for FC Goa. The new signing will have the chance to go up against his old side, NorthEast United, whose tactics he surely will be well acquainted with.

FC Goa also missed their most creative player Brandon Fernandes, who is likely to miss today’s game too, but for Juan it’s not just about one player.

“Of course, Brandon is a good player. But, we have 29 players in the squad. The result was not because a player was absent. We are a team, and we shared the responsibility in defence, in attacks and also goals conceded.

However, the results have had an impact on the team. The morale hasn’t been the same as when the campaign began. “It’s (morale) not good, it is not a happy moment for everybody, we are upset, but this is football as a sport,” stated Juan Ferrando during the pre-match conference.

“We have very good players and when the results are not good, the most important thing is to wake up every day and continue working. I think this is the mentality of us and the club. Day by day, they will become a strong team, it is a good challenge for us to change and work in this situation,” he added.

FC Goa have not lost to the Highlanders in their last seven encounters. However, coach Ferrando believes Saturday's fixture wouldn’t be an easy one. “It is going to be a difficult game, since none of the teams started with good results. I’m sure they will have their best plan for us.

“But, minute by minute, we will get more confidence on the pitch and don’t get scared about anything. We’ll get opportunities and in the end, what’s important is the three points,” he concluded.

Like Gaurs, the Highlanders are struggling too. Coach Khalid Jamil’s side have been able to collect just one point from three games and are in 10th position in the league, a spot above FC Goa.

“The preparation has been good. We will go into the game with a positive mindset. FC Goa is a strong team. They are well organised so we have to be careful. Tactically we will have to be very good. We will be positive and give our best,” stated NorthEast United FC coach Khalid Jamil.

The two sides have played 14 times but have never seen a goalless draw. In fact at least two goals have always been scored in any fixture, we can expect some goals in this game.


IDhar UDHAR

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