FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez admitted they performed very badly in their 1-2 loss against Jamshedpur FC in their opening match of the Indian Super League 2024-25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa on Tuesday.

The Gaurs took the lead in the injury time of the first half with Albanian striker Armando Sadiku finding the back of the net. However, Jamshedpur FC found the equalizer when Javi Siverio scored through a penalty. 

The visitors were able to bag all three points after Jordan Murray scored in the stoppage time for Khalid Jamil’s men.

“Except for the first 20 minutes, even when we scored, the wrong (problem) was (there) throughout the game,” Marquez stated in the post-match press conference.

“We cannot allow one performance like the one we had today, especially from the foreigners. The foreigners were walking on the pitch throughout the game. The Indian players need them, and if the foreigners are walking on the pitch and playing their own game, we will have problems,” he opined.

The Spaniard is optimistic of bouncing back strongly against Mohammedan SC in the next match after losing the opening fixture of the season.

“We spent all pre-season trying to play good football, but when we arrived in the league, some players… For instance, if I have to mention one player who performed well today, it was Brison (Fernandes).”

“But speaking well about someone is difficult because we performed very, very badly. I think that it’s okay. Maybe you don’t believe me, but when it was 1-1, I mentioned on the bench ‘If we lose the game it will be positive for us.’

“Even when we won with Hyderabad FC, we lost the first game against Chennaiyin FC, and the team responded very well. Let’s see the character of the team now. If we lack character, we won’t react, but I feel that we will react after today’s defeat,” Marquez commented.