RAIA: After completing six games without suffering a defeat in the Indian Super League, FC Goa brace itself for a pulsating encounter against Kerala Blasters FC on Sunday, at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda.
The home of the Gaurs, will bear witness to a clash between arguably two of the best football teams in the country now, both vying for supremacy in the league.
With the Men in Orange unbeaten so far and with Kerala Blasters leading them on the points table by a solitary point, the upcoming showdown promises to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination – potentially a sign of things to come for both teams with the ISL picking up intensity and momentum since the international break in November. On Saturday, in the pre-match press conference, FC Goa’s head coach, Manolo Marquez, expressed his optimism ahead of the game.
“We’ve had a strong start to the season. In our last match also, we created a lot of chances, and had the opportunity to finish the game earlier than we did. We also did well in terms of substitutions, maintaining our positioning on the pitch, and so on,” Marquez said.
“That said, we also know the challenges Kerala Blasters bring. They have good players, and we can’t underestimate their capabilities,” he added. “Ivan (Vukomanovic, Kerala Blasters FC) and I share a good relationship. He is very competitive, and he has been able to instill that quality in his team.
“They’ve played more games than us, but there were also times when they had key players unavailable and they’ve still managed to be on top of the points table as of now. On Sunday, it will be a tough game hence – but then every match in the ISL is a battle, and we are prepared for a tough fight.”
The Spaniard also commented on the Gaurs’ unbeaten run and second position on the standings, saying, “It’s still too early to say where we will finish. Some teams have played eight games and some four, the difference is big.”
