ISL 2023-24: Maybe this is our best game this season – FC Goa’s Manolo Marquez

FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez rated the 3-0 win against Chennaiyin FC as the best game of the season for his team. The Gaurs registered a convincing win in Matchweek 6 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in Chennai, on Sunday.

Boris Singh Thangjam scored early into the game in the 13th minute to give a 1-0 lead to his team. Rowlin Borges then doubled the visitors’ lead in the 24th minute whereas Udanta Singh scored in the 72nd minute to give a thumping win to his team.

FC Goa took six shots on target and dominated the game, especially in the first half of play.

“I think that we played a good game. Maybe our best game in this ISL. You never know if the score is fair or not 3-0, 2-0, 3-1, but I think that we deserve to win the game. And I think that we play a good game. It’s true that when we were winning 2-0, there were some moments in the second half where Chennaiyin FC pushed a lot. But finally, when we scored the third goal, I think that the game was over,” stated Marquez at the post-match press conference.

In fact, FC Goa has lost a few matches in the ongoing season despite taking an early lead. However, the Gaurs were able to keep a clean sheet and came up with a dominant performance.

“There is an unwritten rule in football that when you are winning 2-0 at half-time and, in the first minutes of the second half, the team that is losing scores a goal, it seems like they are winning (the game),” he said.

“With 1-0, you have to be very focused because you know that the game is not over, but with 2-0, maybe if there is some relaxation, and the opponent scores, you can have problems. I think it’s true that they pushed and had some chances.,” Marquez added.

The Spaniard added they still need to improve and get better for upcoming matches of the season.

“I think that we can improve, but obviously, during 22 games, there will be good games, normal games, and bad games. The only thing is that in all games, we have to be very competitive. Till now, I think that we have been very competitive, even in games that we didn’t play very well,” he shared.

FC Goa will next take on Jamshedpur FC at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa on 27th November.