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Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau and midfielder Raynier Fernandes have spoken to the media ahead of their ISL match against Bengaluru FC on Thursday evening.
What are your thoughts going into the game against Bengaluru FC?
Gombau: It is definitely an important game for us. We didn’t have much time to prepare for this game as we played Kerala Blasters a few days back but there is hunger in the players to prove themselves on the pitch tomorrow night. Bengaluru FC is a very good team, they beat us in the Durand Cup and we haven’t forgotten that. Tomorrow it will be a good game.
You have won 2 games coming from behind. Do you think this is helping in building a strong mentality this season?
Gombau: Yeah for sure. The team has time and again shown a strong mentality during the games. This has instilled a sense of hunger and to fight back when we are down. I encourage them to work hard through the entirety of the 90 minutes we play on the pitch. We have the capacity to go and bring back the game.
Odisha FC has faced Bengaluru FC in the Durand Cup. Do you think it gives both teams an advantage in terms of having played each other before?
Gombau: We know how Bengaluru FC plays as we have access to TV and other tools but in that case, we know how all the teams in the Hero ISL play. We want to use this game as an extra motivation as we lost against them in the 120th minute and how we felt after that. They are a good side with quality players and I respect them but we have our plan in place for them.
How has it been playing under Coach Gomabu for you so far? What are the learnings that you have taken away from the Durand Cup and the games that you have played?
Raynier: I spoke to the coach before signing for Odisha FC and he told me about the plan that he had. When I came for the pre-season it was a new beginning for me and the coach has given me and all the players a lot of confidence. It has been an excellent learning curve for me as I have developed a lot under Coach Gombau.
