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FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera while speaking to the media on Friday, before their game against NorthEast United FC, stated that the harsh scheduling of their fixtures is going to have an adverse effect on their performance.
“Yes the fixture is going to have an effect on the game especially tomorrow’s game, and it will also have an effect on our game on the 11th,” Lobera said. Goa were slated to play in Kolkata on December 30, 2017 and then Northeast United on January 6 but after the fixtures were revised, they played ATK on January 3 and then travelled to Guwahati for the NorthEast game.
Lobera also thanked the almighty as his players completed the Kolkata tie without any injuries. The Gaurs had a nightmarish experience in the lead up to the game. FC Goa escaped a flight scare, had two flights cancelled and played a match which started on a given date and ended on another, something which is very rare in the history of the game. “We had to train without our kits, and I am very happy we came out of the tie, without any injury concerns," Lobera summed up his feelings about the ATK game. He also did mention that even though he has a host of tired players who haven’t fully recovered from the last game, his team doesn’t have any injury concerns.
“Coro is one of the best players I have managed, not just on the pitch but also off the pitch, he is a real leader and helps keep the dressing room in great shape mentally," Lobera said about his lead striker Ferran Corominas.
The Spaniard has so far scored nine goals in this ISL season, and the manager praised his performance and also stated that given his experience and the teams he has played for in the past, it automatically makes him one of the best players in the League.
Speaking about his defenders Lobera said, “It’s not right to criticise the defenders only for the goals we concede and also similarly its not right to praise just my attackers for the goals we score."
He put emphasis on playing as a cohesive unit and not as individuals, and also mentioned that the whole team needs to be blamed for the soft goals they have conceded in the tournament and also expected his wards to get better defensively.
He also mentioned that he expects NorthEast United to play a different brand of game under a new Technical Adviser in Avam Grant.
