“If we are focused, we can be a team very difficult to beat,” says Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez

Hyderabad FC created history when they won the Indian Super League title last season after they defeated Kerala Blasters in the finals on penalties. It was indeed a sensational feeling for Hyderabad FC fans and their coach Manolo Marquez. The Spaniard who is leading the Nizams this season aswell believes that Hyderabad FC can become the first team to defend their title in ISL history.

While some of the players have moved on from last season, Hyderabad FC have retained the core and have also added some reinforcements. They have also started the new season brilliantly and according to many experts they are one of the contenders to lift the trophy once again if they play like this throughout the season.

In an interview with Times of India, Marquez shared how no team has defended the ISL trophy but he feels that they can achieve that feat if they are focused. “I think we are a very competitive team. It’s true no team has won the ISL trophy twice in a row because it’s very difficult and teams are on equal level. But I think we can compete (for the trophy). If we are focused in a game, we are a team that can be very difficult to beat,”Marquez stated.

Manolo Marquez joined Hyderabad FC at the start of the 2020-21 season and guided the team from the bottom of ISL to fifth place in his first season. They missed out the playoffs just by a whisker but the improvement was clearly seen. The following season Hyderabad FC were sensational and won the trophy after finishing second in the league stage.

“Even while on the flight to India, I was asking myself, “are you sure you want to go to India?” Now, this is my third season here and I am very, very happy. Maybe (I took) one of the best decisions in my life,” Marquez recalled.

Lastly the Spaniard opened up on how he has received many offers from different clubs and even was asked by friends why he wants to continue, but Marquez just feels at home here and believes this is the right step for his managerial career.

“Even my friends ask me, “Why do you continue?” It’s not only about titles. Sometimes you feel you are in the correct place in the correct position in the correct moment. For me, it was easy to say yes (to Hyderabad), even though it’s true that some teams tried to call me,” the Spaniard said.

He shares how he is happy at the moment, future can be uncertain but what matters now is the present. “I don’t know how many years I will be here. For the moment, I am happy. People in my country ask me, if I will come back, I don’t know. You never know,” he concluded.