PANJIM: After suffering back to back defeats, FC Goa will look to overturn their fortunes in the Indian Super League when they play away to Jamshedpur FC at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Wednesday.
Juan Ferrando’s side weren’t up to the mark in the last two games. Especially against Chennaiyin FC, the Gaurs were left exposed in the defence and were lucky not to concede more goals than they did. The score line pretty favoured the Gaurs thanks to the misfiring Chennaiyin attack.
FC Goa was absolutely cut to shreds by Chennaiyin FC in their last match. In the last 2 matches, they have faced 29 shots, 10 of which have been on target. Before this, in the previous 5 matches, they had faced 45 shots with just 11 shots on target
But coach Juan Ferrando has set his sights on future games, “Our focus is on the present, it’s on tomorrow. I’m still sad about the last two games. But we have to look at the present and the future because we can’t change the past.”
The Gaurs now face a firm challenge from Jamshedpur FC who are on a fine run in the league and when Juan Ferrando was asked about his approach towards the game he said, “We decide on one plan and one way which we will keep a secret until tomorrow.
“The last few days, we’ve had issues with sickness and minor injuries. Edu, Brandon have all been affected apart from some others as well but now they are better. The overall feeling in the squad is better than last week,” stated Juan.
But the Spaniard hopes to come back stronger against JFC and said, “We have good squad and players and they understand the teams philosophy and we will get better.”
Meanwhile the match will see a clash between two top scorers of the current season — Igor Angulo and Nerijus Valskis, who are tied on 6 goals apiece. The duo is crucial for their respective sides as their teams are heavily dependent on them for goals. Both Angulo and Valskis have scored 75% of their team’s goals which highlighting both teams’ reliance on them.
After their opening day defeat against Chennaiyin FC, Owen Coyle’s men have put a strong fight in the league and have managed to remain unbeaten in the league in the last six games. Their defense have seen a drastic change in the last few games which saw them concede just one goal in last three matches, keeping 2 clean sheets.
Coach Coyle was delighted with their work rate and attitude his squad has shown so far and said, “Every game the boys have been stronger. We have tried to look into areas we had to try and address. And the boys have responded and when you have a group like that, you can achieve good results.”
Coyle added, “We still have players ready to step in. We do have attacking options and we have to be at our very best against a good side, because Goa certainly are,” added Coyle.
The Scottish stressed that his side will have to give their best from the first minute till the last. “Against FC Goa they have some very talented individual players who can create problems. We will have to solve the problems on the field and look to give them problems,” he concluded.
