NT Reporter
Panaji
FC Goa will look to secure their first win of the Indian Super League 2025–26 season when they face Mohammedan SC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata today at 7:30 p.m.
The Gaurs opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Inter Kashi, in a contest that swung on fine margins. Prasanth handed Kashi the lead before Dejan Drazic calmly converted from the penalty spot to ensure Manolo Marquez’s men walked away with a point.
Reflecting on that stalemate, head coach Manolo Marquez termed the result fair but admitted his side paid the price for a momentary lapse. “It was a fair score. Inter Kashi, especially if they score before the opponent, are very difficult to beat. They are very well organised — ten players behind the ball and waiting for our mistake. We started well with the ball, but in one moment we lost it,” he said.
Attention now shifts to Mohammedan SC, who come into the fixture after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Jamshedpur FC, courtesy of Madih Talal’s decisive strike. Despite the loss, Marquez is wary of the Kolkata outfit’s potential.
“Obviously it will be a difficult game. They have registered some important players. They played without too much pressure the other day and that can be more dangerous,” he cautioned. “We know they will play with a lot of intensity. We need to match that. Maybe we have more quality, but we must show it if we want to win.”
Marquez also brushed aside conversations around squad composition and foreign signings, insisting the focus remains internal. “We spoke about stopping the talk on whether we have or don’t have foreigners. This is FC Goa. I feel we have a team to be competitive in all 13 games,” he asserted.
Demanding yet appreciative, the Spaniard signed off with a note of belief in his squad. “In some moments I demand a lot. I am tough with them. But they are top guys. I love these players because they work very hard in every training session.”
