Thursday , March 28 2024

Odisha FC travel to face Bengaluru FC!

Josep Gombau and Victor Rodriguez attended the pre-match press conference and briefed the media ahead of their game tomorrow against Bengaluru FC.

A win against East Bengal FC must have bolstered the squad’s motivation to go to Bengaluru FC and get a positive result. What do you have to say to that?

Josep Gombau: Last game’s result was good for us as it helped us climb to the fifth spot on the table. Now we face a new challenge in the form of Bengaluru FC, we are going to Bengaluru with the intention of getting a good result. The team has been training really well with full focus on the objective. We will have a few days rest after the game against the Blues as we are entering the business end of the season and the games will be coming thick and fast so for that the squad needs to be in good shape.

Bengaluru FC won their last game against NorthEast United FC so they will be confident at home, especially in front of their home support. How do you intend to tackle that?

Josep Gombau: I think every game is totally different. Bengaluru FC has a very good squad but with every passing game, the battle at the top is intensifying. In this game, we will have our moments to exploit their weaknesses and get a good result at the end of 90 mins. This is the mentality that the boys have going into this game. We will play our brand of football which is pressing the opposition at the right moments, building up in the final third, and focusing on the things we have rehearsed in training. The boys are ready to go for Bengaluru.

How important do you think this game is for Odisha FC to cement its place in the playoffs considering things are heating up in the top half of the table?

Josep Gombau: Every game from here on is very important for us. All the remaining games have the same weightage. We need to be focused on the task at hand which is Bengaluru FC. Win at the Kanteerava and securing all three points will mean a lot to us. In two weeks’ time, we will be taking on the Mariners in Kolkata, Chennai away, and then back home against FC Goa and Hyderabad FC. I think we have seven finals to play for and need to go game by game. Our aim is to make the playoffs this season and create history for the club that is what we are all working towards.

We can instantly see the difference Saul Crespo can make when he is on the pitch. How vital is he for the club’s objective to reach the playoffs this season?

Josep Gombau: Every single player in the team is important. We are more of a team than a group of individuals. Every player in the squad is contributing in some way or the other to the best of their abilities. We know what Saul Crespo is capable of and what he brings to the table when he is on the pitch. He did very well before his injury and now he has come back to help the team win against East Bengal FC. I am very happy to have him back as he is a player who contributes a lot to the defence and the going forward.

First time playing India. How has your experience been so far?

Victor Rodriguez: It has been really good so far. I am really happy to be here. The level of the league is very good and competitive. I want to give my best to the team and hopefully, I can do that in the games to come.

Your thoughts on the game against Bengaluru FC…

Victor Rodriguez: It will be a tough game. They have a very good squad but we have what it takes to get a good result against them. We have been training hard this week and the squad’s entire focus is to play good football and take three points back home.

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