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It’s a new dawn for FC Goa as Derrick Pereira takes over the reins. The Indian football legend, who had been serving the club as its Technical Director since 2018 will have his task cut out against a formidable opponent in Odisha FC.
After a dismal start to the season (three losses in as many games), the Gaurs have looked to be back to their usual dominant self with seven points from their last three. However, with the Juan Ferrando era coming to an abrupt end, it will now be on Derrick Pereira to lead the troops to a win on Friday night.
The task will be made tougher considering that FC Goa will again be without the services of their mercurial Spanish forward Jorge Ortiz.
Derrick Pereira weighed in on his appointment and the challenges ahead in the pre-match press conference.
“It was shocking as well as exciting to get the call (to take charge of the first team). Before this, I was taking care of the youth teams at FC Goa and involved with the day to day activities,” remarked Pereira.
“When I got this opportunity, there were a lot of thoughts in my head. Within me, I knew it was always a ‘yes’. But I asked for a day. I needed time to talk to my family.”
This, however, is not the first time that Derrick has been summoned to clean up a situation like the same. He had earlier taken over Churchill Brothers during the middle of the season during his time with the I-League outfit.
Then again during the 2019/20 Indian Super League season, the former Indian international came in to take charge of the Gaurs after the Club parted ways with Sergio Lobera.
“I have faced this before. I’m 100% sure the players will be professional. Such issues off the field and on the field come and go and you’ve got to overcome them,” opined the new FC Goa head coach.
“I spoke to some of the senior players and they know what they have to do. And I know we’ll overcome this situation as quickly as possible. We are trying to create an atmosphere to get back to our winning ways.”
Odisha FC, on the other hand, have stumbled to back to back defeats following a promising start that saw them grab three wins from their opening four games. Defeats in the last two games have seen Kiko Ramirez’s men drop to seventh in the table.
The Juggernauts will be without the services of Hector Rodas. And Ramirez is sure to look to Spanish midfielder Javi Hernandez for inspiration in the middle of the pitch. Playing a much more attacking role this season, the former ATK Mohun Bagan man is Odisha’s topscorer with four goals to his name.
Friday night, thus promises to be a thriller as two strong sides – both with a penchant for playing the game with flair go head to head.
