FC Goa had completed third from backside within the earlier season of the Indian Super League (ISL), with its head coach switching sides mid-season because it completed out of semifinal spots for the primary time since 2016.
Under head coach Carlos Pena, who received the membership’s final silverware, the League Winners Shield, the membership seems to be to proceed its rebuild. And one of the vital necessary gamers for a similar has been Pena’s compatriot Iker Guarrotxena.
The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder, after becoming a member of the ISL this season, has taken up the function of a striker with ease, scoring 10 objectives this season, together with a hat-trick in opposition to East Bengal and a brace in opposition to Jamshedpur FC.
While his goal-scoring prowess has been in comparison with former Gaurs Igor Angula and Ferran Corominas, the Spaniard stresses that his purpose is to win titles – silverware past private accolades.
“At the start of the season, I mentioned in interviews that my objective with FC Goa is to win titles. We’re three-fourths into the league season now, and I want to say that this target remains unchanged,” he instructed Sportstar.
“Before I joined the club, I had understood that we had the squad and the ability to be among the best in the league. Having spent a few months with the team now, my confidence has only increased. I still believe in my goals, and we as a team are working together to achieve them,” he added.
An reply to the striker downside
For Pena, the striker downside was one of the vital necessary questions at the start of the 2022-23 season, with Jorge Ortiz, who had an awesome season with the membership (14 objectives) final season, leaving for China.
Consequently, Goa signed just a few (strikers) to strengthen its arsenal – Noah Sadaoui, Alvaro Vazquez and Guarrotxena.
While Vazquez had are available after an awesome season with Kerala Blasters, scoring eight objectives and aiding two extra, Iker was new to the league. Eighteen video games later, the previous has only one aim in 16 whereas Iker is into double digits.
Sadadoui, alternatively, has shifted to the left wing as Goa’s attacking seems to be extra fluid than having the Moroccan within the centre.
“During the pre-season, Coach Carlos moulded us to play a style of football best suited for the ISL, which happened because of his prior experience in the league as a player. I appreciate the confidence he has in us, and during every game, we try our best to repay his faith,” Iker stated.
Goa’s final pursuit for playoffs
FC Goa has misplaced three of its 9 residence video games to this point, and all of them have come in opposition to former ISL Champions – Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC.
“Our home record has been good so far, winning six out of nine games and scoring 22 goals in these matches, and at least a portion of the credit should go to our fans,” he stated, welcoming the followers again to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium after the pandemic hiatus.
But the harm from the losses was evident. After all, wins within the three video games would have had Goa sit third within the league desk in the intervening time.
“Mumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC are two other teams apart from my own, that have my respect. They have their own style and play with unity,” Iker added.
FC Goa, with 27 factors from 18 video games, is already eight factors forward of its factors tally final season and should win each its subsequent video games to safe a confirmed spot within the playoffs. And for that, Iker can be Pena’s Ace of Spades.
“Given our current position, obviously, it’s going to be harder than expected, but I see the hunger among us and our quality, so the objective remains the same, 100 percent. And we will continue giving our best in training sessions and in matches,” Iker opined.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com