After facing defeats in their first two games, last season's finalists FC Goa will be hoping to get back to winning ways against defending champions Chennaiyin FC on Thursday. The game which will be taking place in Chennai's home ground, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will be the replay of last season's finals.
FC Goa manager Zico faced the press for the pre-match conference on Wednesday ahead of Goa's game against Chennai.
The 63-year-old was asked about the mood in his team's training camp after facing back to back defeats. Zico replied that the team is well prepared for Thursday's game despite the two defeats.
"We are well prepared to look for good result. We didn't play badly our two matches, unfortunately, we didn't get good results, but we are prepared to play our next match tomorrow", the Brazilian said.
Created many chances but goalkeepers have excelled
Goa has only been able to score a single goal in their opening two games this season. The former Udinese player was questioned on this, and zero stated that the team have created chances but were thwarted by the goalkeepers in both games.
"You can see that in the first two matches we created so many opportunities. If you look at the stats, you are going to see that maybe the two best players in those two games were the goalkeepers of the opponent teams. And also we lost so many goals that we shouldn't. So I think that we are creating and we are playing attacking game, but unfortunately, it is not enough yet.
“If we didn't have shooted, if we didn't create anything, if the Goalkeeper didn't work and all I would be constricting my words, but you can see that we created so much and we are playing the same style of game.”
As stated earlier, Thursday's match will be the replay of last season's finals. FC Goa faced a heartbreaking moment when Chennaiyin FC's Stiven Mendoza scored the winner in the finals and Zico was asked if he is motivated to take revenge for last season's heartbreak. The former Japan national team manager said that he doesn't think about the past and it doesn't motivate him in anyways.
"I don't think about the past. What's past is past. It does not motivate me in any way," said Zico.
Subhasish Roy Chowdhury close to return
The FC Goa manager was requested for an update on the injuries to striker Robin Singh and goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury. Regarding Robin Singh, Zico said that he will have to wait until the end of team's last training session on Wednesday.
Regarding Subhasish, the Brazilian said the goalkeeper is back in training after receiving the approval from doctors in Mumbai and the team is hoping to have him in the team soon.
"He is practicing. He was approved by the doctors of the ISL and he is practicing. Before that, he was not able to practice, but after the approval from the doctor, he is practicing. So let's see, when I have an opportunity we are going to put him to play", said Zico
FC Goa will be hoping to get their first win of the tournament by defeating Marco Materazzi's Chennaiyin FC, however, the Super Machans will be having the home advantage and won't be making things easy for the Goans.
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