Herald: From a FC Goa player to being head coach in two years time, how does it sound ?
Carlos Pena: It sounds exciting, sounds great. Because I spent two years at FC Goa and my time there was very happy. I love the club, the passion and how fans love football in Goa. I hope it goes the same way now as it did as a player. Really excited and looking forward to starting work.
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H: How easy/difficult was the decision to come to Goa as a coach to that of when you had to decide as a player?
CP: I have this advantage of knowing the country, culture, environment, I know many players who are in the squad. I know how ISL works. I think in this part of the experience, I have some advantages. It’s easier for me. Things are not always the same. Things have changed at the club as well. But I am more sure of myself now at this moment.
H: Do you think you have the required experience to coach FC Goa? Or is it too early to consider?
CP: During the last two years, I have been coaching two U-19 teams and I was part of the staff of a third division senior team in Spain. From the time I was a player, I was interested in every training session in learning from the coaches I had. I think I am fully prepared to face this challenge and I am a person that thinks that you never have enough experience. I want to learn everyday, I will be a better coach five years from now because I believe in many things. But at this moment, I think I am fully prepared.
H: As a player you were commanding and a leader on the pitch, but as a coach what can we expect from you?
CP: Me as a coach, I am the same as a player. Every training session, every drill that we do, it’s important, it makes you better. I like my team’s attack, I like my team keeping possession, I like my team being aggressive with and without the ball. I like to dominate the game, try to be proactive and not wait for things to happen. That’s the way I enjoy playing football and that’s the way I enjoy coaching. This is the way. The FC Goa fans will be proud of the team.
H: Sergio Lobera introduced Tiki-Taka football at FC Goa, Juan Ferrando continued… What will be your approach at the club?
CP: I don’t like to compare. With (Sergio) Lobera, Zico, (Juan) Ferrando, everyone has their own style. Sergio coached at La Masia, at Barca and I am from Barca academy. I have spent many years playing in La Masia. I have been coached by Van Gaal, Frank, and many great coaches there. Like I said before, I like when my team is proactive. We try to dominate the game with ball possession and this will be one of the objectives. Every fan who watches FC Goa will know how FC Goa is going to face that game.
H: What will be your strategy and your aim to revive the club especially after the last two seasons’ disappointing results.
CP: Looking from outside, FC Goa had many issues. Last season they changed the coach, in January they had many injuries and what I saw was that they had many problems. Now I think it’s a very different season and one difference is that we will have the fans again at the stands (stadium). So this is great news for us. The most important thing is to bring the smiles again and players need to play to make the fans happy. We will try to build a strong team and a strong squad at this moment. We have a lot of work to do till the beginning of the pre-season. And from that we will work on our style.
H: What would be your first move at the Club? Most of the players have played with you, can we expect a revamp or are we going to see a team built around this lot?
CP: It’s an amazing situation now because I think I have an advantage here. When you are coaching players that you know and have worked with before, you know more things than maybe other coaches may not know about them. We were teammates, we will be teammates but we won’t share the same locker room. So we need to build a new relationship but I am here to make them better to obtain their full potential and I am sure I will get it.
H: You had a great run and respect as a FC Goa player. Many times, the success rate is very less when a player returns as a coach and we have seen that happen in Europe especially at Man United, Chelsea and now at Barcelona?
CP: hopefully I have the same success I had. In the past Barca signed Pep Guardiola, Madrid signed Zidane. It’s usual, it’s common to do this from the club’s perspective. Because I am sure that the former players have many advantages from other coaches as we know how the locker room is. We know how the players feel and this is a great advantage. Of course, there are other things that you need to manage, but well, I am used to the pressure. I have been playing for 20 years at great clubs. I have played in La Liga for many years, I am used to that pressure. So my only focus is —first — to build a strong squad. After that try to improve the players and make the club grow.
H: The managers which influenced you the most?
CP: I have learnt a lot from all the coaches I have had during my career. I am lucky because I have shared seasons with great coaches. I like to learn some things about many coaches. I like the way Pep Guardiola plays football, I also love the character and motivation that Simone gives to the team. I love the rhythm that Jurgen Klopp gives. I don’t have a role model. I try to learn from different coaches.
H: You came closest to winning the ISL title for Goa, can you complete the unfinished business as a coach?
CP: Of Course this is my dream, this is my objective Goa has been very close to winning the ISL. We lost finals twice. FC Goa came close many times to win the title. We will work to be close again and then of course you can manage all the details. But we will work to make this dream come true.
H: FC Goa are known to have the best strikers in the League. However, last season they failed in that area. Would you like to stress on this area?
CP: Yeah, but it’s not about me but about the management. I am the head coach, yeah, my opinion counts but the management also has many things to say. We are working in building a stronger squad. I am sure the fans would be very happy when the news comes and when the squad will close. We will make the fans proud of the way FC Goa play, fight and face the game. We will work on it.
H: What about the team as a whole?
CP: In football, everything is about balance. We will need to be strong in defence and strong in attack. We will build the team in that way. I want a balanced team.
H: Last season, FC Goa had many players coming through at FC Goa development side, what are your thoughts on the same?
CP: I know this is very important. This is the main difference between FC Goa and the other teams. How they contribute to Indian football. It seems that FC Goa is the market for other teams because they come here to buy great talent we have in our academy and in our squad. And it’s a matter of pride for FC Goa. Ill be very close to the academy. Yesterday I watched FC Goa’s dev team play. I will pay attention to any young player. I know and I share that the academy is the best thing for FC Goa.
H: What can FC Goa fans expect?
CP: They will be proud of the team. They can expect this. We will work everyday to make them proud of us. This is the assurance I can give to them. Working on these lines, success will arrive.
