ISL 2022-23: If focused, we can be difficult to beat: Hyderabad FC’s Manolo Marquez

Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez has fired a warning to other teams, stating that they can be difficult to beat if they are focused on their game. The previous season’s champions are currently at the top of the points table with two wins and one draw in three matches and a total of seven points.

The Nizams drew their first match of the season against Mumbai City FC by 3-3. Subsequently, they defeated NorthEast United FC by 3-0 and then bested Durand Cup champions Bengaluru FC by 1-0.

Meanwhile, no other ISL team has won consecutive titles in the tournament but Marquez is optimistic that his team can achieve the feat if they play their best.

“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,” he was quoted as saying by The Times of India earlier this month.

The Spaniard is in his third season in the ISL and he revealed that he is enjoying his time in the country.

“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.

Meanwhile, Marquez admitted that they were able to grab the crucial stages in the previous season on their way to glory. The club didn’t have the rub of the green on their side due to Covid cases but the young players were able to take their chances.

“Sometimes to win or not (in football) is a matter of details,” Marquez said. “I think we had a very good regular season, but at a crucial moment when we could become champions of the Shield, we had a lot of Covid cases. If ATK Mohun Bagan defeated us in the semi-finals, which they could, we would have won nothing. Even in the final, Sahil (Tavora) scored right at the end, and in tiebreaker, the winning goal was scored by Halicharan (Narzary) who was injured from game one.”

Hyderabad FC will take on FC Goa on Saturday at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad.