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Ahead of FC Goa’s home game against Atletico de Kolkata tomorrow, coach Zico and Andre Santos addressed the media. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:
There have been a few changes in the team for the last match. Do you think it worked in your benefit?
A. Zico- We hope that when we make these changes it helps us in scoring more goals. What is more important is to create opportunities to score and we did create a lot of opportunities in the first and second matches. We need to be calm and do the right thing, so that we are able to score goals. We can’t always depend on defenders to score for us in every game.
If Luis Garcia doesn’t play tomorrow due to his injury, will that be an added advantage for your team on your home ground?
A. Zico- Well that is not an advantage. We are still playing against a 11 player team. If they entered the game with a 10 member team then it is an advantage. He is a very good player and it is a loss for the Kolkata team that he is injured.
Q. As a coach, would like to see a team play without Luis Garcia?
A. Zico- As a coach we always want the best players to play in the team. It is good for the team, for the game and even the fans love to see their favourite player play. We always want the best team to play even in the opposite team.
Q. Now Atletico de Kolkata is right on top in the points table, but FC Goa is down. How important is this match for you?
A. Zico- This is a very important game for us. I think a win from us is very important and even for the tournament. We need to win the games on the home ground since we lost the first match in Goa. A win is very important. It will balance everything out.
Q. Andre Santos is traditionally a right back or left sided midfielder, but in the last game you played him in a midfielder’s role in front of the defense. Was that a tactical move?
A. Zico- Andre Santos was always a forward player and very offensive player. He knows how to play in that position and because of that I used him in that position.
Q. Andre, you were seen indulging in some amazing Goan food today. Has the Goan food given you the energy to play for tomorrow’s game?
A. Andre Santos- Absolutely. I am completely focused for tomorrow’s match and I hope that the game tomorrow will be as good as the food that I had.
Q. Will coach Zico take over as India’s coach as a new challenge?
A. Zico- Right now my aim and focus is only helping the FC Goa team and nothing else. All my focus is on that right now.
Q. You played your first match the last time. How would you explain it?
A. Andre Santos- Yes it was my first match. I have been here only for a week, but I have been training really very hard and I hope to every day and for every game. I hope to be much better in the next match.
Q. Pires was a great player. But he looked slow and unfit. Is he the team’s weakness?
A. Not at all. He’s a great professional, he’s fit and has been training well. We can’t expect to put a lot of pressure or obligation on him. All players know their limits. We always look forward to him and technically he is very important to the team. We never know how a game will turn out. An older player can play just as well as a younger player. When he plays even for a few minutes in the right rhythm he is and can be an excellent at his game.
Q. Goa vs Kolkata is always a rich rivalry. At this first edition of the ISL, do you feel the pressure?
A. Its no different. Its football and we don’t need to be worried of rivalry and things like that. Who is superior, can be witnessed on the pitch. Challenges like this are always a motivation for the players. A lot of the foreign players don’t know about this rivalry. But in this league everyone are rivals.
