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ISL: FC Goa look to ground high-flying Bengaluru (Preview)

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7 years ago

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Fatorda (Goa), Nov 29 (IANS) After a disappointing result in Mumbai last weekend, FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera will look to bounce back to winning ways when his boys take on Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) tie at Fatorda Stadium here on Thursday.

But getting the better of table-toppers Bengaluru won’t be an easy task. And the former Barcelona youth coach knows that well.

Speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday, Lobera said that Bengaluru are the strongest team in the ISL at the moment. But at the same time, he maintained his team would do its best to get the desired result.

“Bengaluru knows how we play and we know how they play. But what is important to me is that we need to maintain our ideas and philosophies and our style of play. We need to focus on our strategies and ensure we execute what we plan to do. Bengaluru FC are a strong team at this point in time.

“They have shown they are the team with the best form. For us, it will be important to get the right result against the team that has been most superior so far,” the Spaniard said.

Even though Goa conceded an early goal against Mumbai City FC, they still managed to enjoy over 65 per cent possession.

Lobera will be hoping to repeat the same against Bengaluru FC when the teams meet for the first time.

FC Goa midfielder Brandon Fernandes, who has faced Bengaluru FC in the I-League, said: “Bengaluru FC are a much stronger team and we have to take that as a challenge. So we need to plan as a team and play like a team tomorrow. Then we can take it from there.”

On the other hand, Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca wants to capitalise on their good start to the season.

The Spanish coach, however, was full of praise for his counterpart Lobera. He said he was looking forward to the encounter.

“For sure it is going to be a tough game. Goa has a Catalan coach who has been on the same team as me — Barcelona. We have similar philosophies — maintain possession, press high. They have shown that in their first two games.

“For me, they have been one of the most impressive teams in the Hero ISL even though they lost their last match.”

Roca also tipped FC Goa to make it to the playoffs. But at the same time, he wants his team to win tomorrow. “We’ll try our best to win. Let’s see what happens,” he added.

–IANS
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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3 years ago

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May 5, 2022

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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