PANJIM: FC Goa chief coach Sergio Lobera has a huge task at hand as he prepares his team for the fourth edition of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).
The Spaniard replaces Brazil legend Zico, counted among the greatest footballers ever, and must inspire a team that had an awful time last season, finishing last with just four wins from 14 outings.
At 40, Sergio is also the youngest coach in the Hero ISL which, one would think, makes his job even tougher. The Spaniard seems unfazed, though. In fact, he oozes confidence, and is convinced he can help the Gaurs script a new chapter following Zico’s three-year reign.
“For me it is a pleasure to be able to substitute Zico. It’s not pressure of any kind. Instead, it’s great motivation. Zico has been a great footballer and, in my eyes, he is a great coach too. He is also one of the big names in the football world. But, in my opinion, what’s most important is the club. Coaches change, but what’s left are the clubs, the fans and the people linked to the sport,” said the FC Goa coach.
So far, it’s been good going for Sergio and the club, both of whom have walked the talk. FC Goa travelled to Spain for pre-season training and won three of their five friendlies, two of them very convincingly. Their style of play has been impressive, thereby raising expectations of the fans.
A striking feature of FC Goa this season has been the change of foreign personnel. They are one of two franchises who did not retain their foreign players. Last year, Zico opted for players from Brazil. And now, Sergio appears to have done the same by picking Spaniards. Maybe it’s the comfort level but you’ve got that wrong. For Sergio and FC Goa, it’s the quality that matters and not the player’s’ nationality.
“We did a lot of research and had plenty of discussions before zeroing in on the names. There is a particular style of football that I want to play and we chose players based on that philosophy and ideals in conjunction with the image that the club wanted to project this year. We chose to get some players who are familiar with the system and we also got some players who we feel have great potential to excel in this system,” said Sergio, who was among the coaching staff of the senior Barcelona team.
The players include Manuel Lanzarote, formerly with Barcelona reserves, Moroccan international midfielder Ahmed Jahouh, Copa Del Rey winner Ferran Corominas and fan favourite Bruno Pinheiro, who returns to the team after an impressive spell during the first edition in 2014 when the club lost in the semi-final against eventual champions ATK.
Zico took the team to the final in 2015 before last season’s disaster, and while Sergio provides no assurances, this team has much more than just promise.
If at all there is a cause for worry, it’s in the goalkeeping department where the club chose not to sign a foreign goalkeeper. With Laxmikant Kattimani, among the Indian players the club retained, expected to be number one, there will be considerable pressure. But for a team that has so much talent elsewhere, such minor concerns can hopefully be overcome.
