At Goa, in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, FC Goa extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a victory over East Bengal FC. Despite several excellent opportunities, the Gaurs won 1-0, with Brison’s header in the 13th minute being the difference. After the win, Manolo Marquez discussed a number of subjects, including the victory, the team’s winning streak, and Sadiku’s suspension.
Manolo Marquez on the game
Despite winning 1-0 and moving to second place in the table, only behind Mohun Bagan Super Giants, Manolo Marquez was dissatisfied with his team’s performance. The Gaurs had many opportunities to double their advantage, with Guarrotxena hitting the post and crossbar once each. Sadiku was set up by Brison for a straightforward tap-in, but the Albanian squandered the opportunity. Manolo called the match one of his club’s poorest of the season and suggested the squad must be focused on winning with greater ease rather than waiting for the final whistle.
“Maybe it’s the worst game that we played in this ISL, this season. If you count, I think that we had more clear chances in the game. One post, one crossbar, the action of Sadiku is more difficult to send out than inside the ball. But it’s true that I’m not satisfied. I’m not very angry, but disappointed. If you play like this, most of the games you have more possibilities to lose than to win. It’s important that during one competition there will be good games, normal games, bad games, and it’s important to win when you play not very well.”
“I am guilty because it’s not the first, the second, the third time that when we are winning 1-0, we are waiting the full time. And we can do this. OK, I can understand today because in the last two games it was like this, that the opponent scored. But after this game, I think that we need to do something because with this kind of football, it’s not enough to arrive to our target.”
Manolo Marquez on 11-game unbeaten run
With this victory, FC Goa is currently unbeaten in their past eleven Indian Super League games. Beginning with a 2-2 tie with Chennaiyin, the Gaurs have won seven games in their incredible run. Manolo Marquez talked about how hard it is to go 11 games without losing and how his team has benefited from the streak in terms of league standings.
“It’s very difficult to get 11 games to be unbeaten in this competition, because every game is very tough, and that’s all about these 11 games. Seven wins and four draws. It’s very difficult. This is the reason that we are second now in the table. In the beginning, before these 11 games, I think that we were third or fourth from the bottom.”
Manolo Marquez on Sadiku’s suspension:
FC Goa were reduced to ten men in the dying stages of the game after Armando Sadiku was sent off by referee Crystal John ffor a challenge on Hijazi Maher. Many of the FC Goa players and coaches were taken aback by the decision to send off, even if the challenge appeared reckless. Insisting that it was not a red card, Manolo Marquez indicated that they might appeal against the decision.
“It’s not a red card. I watched it just now; it’s a normal action. Nothing, it’s Hijazi and Armando fighting for one ball, nothing. Maximum, maximum, maximum is a yellow card, but never, never a red card. It’s not enough for a red card. It’s not aggression, it’s nothing. But the referee, he thinks that it was a (red). Maybe, let’s see the report, but he showed a red card and let’s see if we can appeal or not, I don’t know. But the action is not a red card, you know how I am, the red card is not fair.”
Manolo Marquez on Hrithik Tiwari:
Hrithik began the season as the team’s third-choice keeper, but after Kattimani and Lara Sharma were injured, he was given an opportunity to start. A team that had failed to keep a clean sheet in their first six games has kept four in their last 10, and it’s no wonder that Hrithik missed the first six but played the last ten. This season, he has demonstrated exceptional reflexes. Even today, he made a crucial save against Richard Celis to hold onto the clean sheet. Manolo Marquez remarked about the young goalkeeper’s effect on the team this season.
“If I am a fan (of FC Goa), I would be a great fan of Hrithik Tiwari. He’s saving incredible goals every game. I think that he’s in a great moment. He’s very calm in the ball. Not outside the pitch, but in the pitch. And it’s very important because everyone is very confident in him. Even when there are crosses, he catches the ball. It’s not that he clears the ball. He catches the ball. This for the defenders and for the team is very important.”
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