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PANJIM: FC Goa boasted one of the finest foreign contingents in the ISL season seven with almost every player giving their best in the competition guiding the club to the semi-finals.
While what’s was impressive back then, Juan Ferrando now faces a dilemma of selecting the four foreigners from the six for the AFC Champions League as the competition allows just four overseas players to be registered in the competition.
Coach Juan Ferrando has exceptional attacking options in Alberto Noguera, Jorge Ortiz Mendonca who both can play in number 10 position while Ivan Gonzales is good in build up and pressing game. The Club then has Igor Angulo in attack, and we all know the trouble he can cause to the opposition backline. Even coach Ferrando stated one opportunity for Igor Angulo and it’s a goal.
The AFC has 3+ 1 regulations. This allows just four international players — three foreigners of any nationality and one player from the AFC member nation, which includes Australia that seals James Donachie’s place in the squad while the other three are yet to be decided.
“We are working a lot. In my opinion all the players had very positive impact on the team and they have helped the team,” expressed coach Juan Ferrando
“It’s a difficult decision. More or less in my mind we are thinking everyday but tomorrow night we decide, the best player,” added Ferrando whose side plays six games in 20 days in the competition.
The coach admitted the decision wouldn’t be an easy one and it would definitely hurt it as much as it would hurt the players. “Tomorrow is a difficult moment (day). It will be difficult for me and the players as the players have worked and love the club a lot. But this is life in football,” he stated.
FC Goa play their first champions match on April 14 against Al Rayyan at 8.30 p.m. and Coach Ferrando prefers to stay composed and carry on with their philosophy in the AFC CL.. “We play against very good squads. I believe and trust my squad. The plan more or less is the same. We want to win but we know it will be difficult,” he concluded.
Speaking during the briefing, Edu Bedia stated that the AFC is different ball game and said, “Now we play teams at a different level. Persepolis, for example, made the final last season, and all the teams are very competitive. We are training with lots of intensity and we want to stay as competitive as possible. We will have to ensure that we take all our chances in the games that we play.”
“There will be very far and few chances and we got to take them,” he added.
“We are now refreshed for this tournament. We have become experts at living in bubbles and we are mentally focused on this tournament and we want to participate here and take the opportunity provided to us.”
Bedia stressed his side would have to be smart and play wisely against the stronger teams and said, “We will have to adapt our style and change some aspects of our play but we will compete hard and make things as difficult as possible for the teams.”
Finally, the midfielder also highlighted how playing in Goa could end up being an advantage for the Men in Orange against foreign sides.
“It may be an advantage playing in Goa because of the climate and the fact that we have more experience here, but there is no excuse at the end of the day because it is the same for everyone.”
