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The stakes have never been higher for FC Goa this season. As a team that has reached the playoffs six times in seven seasons, fans expect the Gaurs to consistently aim for top honours. Their ongoing campaign, however, has hit the peaks of seasons past, with the club currently struggling to string together any kind of run to rise up the points table from their current ninth position.
With exactly three-fourths of their Indian Super League (ISL) campaign done and dusted, FC Goa now have exactly five games to try and turn their season around. The final quarter of their season starts on Wednesday when they take on Chennaiyin FC – coincidentally the same team that they last won against.
Despite the tough challenge at hand, FC Goa head coach Derrick Pereira feels that his team can deliver well. “I see a lot of positive faces among the players. The situation here (in the bio-bubble) has improved. We’ll still be taking things match-by-match as I’ve said before,” he said.
“The whole team is working hard and at the same time, also hoping and praying that the results will go our way in future matches.”
Like the Gaurs, Chennaiyin FC are also in a tricky situation right now, having lost their most recent game against Mumbai City. Currently at 8th place, Bozidar Bandovic and his boys are also gunning for the playoffs, which makes the clash an important affair for both sides.
“We did well in the first leg (the game against Chennaiyin earlier this season, which Goa won 1-0). If we maintain the same intent tomorrow, we could have another positive result,” Pereira reflected on the upcoming game.
With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the league in general and the club in particular, the players had a bad time throughout January, spending more time in isolation than in training sessions or matchdays. The month of February, however, began well for the Gaurs as they had a good break after the Odisha FC clash on the 1st.
Hopefully, Pereira and Co. have utilised the time to refresh themselves and get some much-deserved rest ahead of their upcoming match.
“My heart feels a little heavy to think that we got 15 points from 15 matches. We could’ve won a few more games – but on the bright side anything can happen in football,” Alexander Romario Jesuraj said, after scoring the equalizer against Odisha.
“Therefore, going forward we will play as a single unit with a positive mindset, and produce the best possible results.”
As mentioned earlier, FC Goa are currently at ninth place on the ISL points table, with 15 points from 15 matches. The top-four spots are at least seven points ahead, making it really tough for the Gaurs to guarantee themselves a berth in the playoffs.
Not only do they have to win all of their remaining five matches, but FC Goa will also have to depend on other teams’ results now to see if they can break into the top-four. On Wednesday, a win over Chennaiyin FC would take them to 18 points from 16 games but there will be no change in their current standing.
In short, the Gaurs are counting on miracles. They are fortunate to an extent, because football is never short of miracles. Derrick Pereira and his boys will be hoping that the rest of their campaign goes in their favour, so that they can at least return home on a positive note.
