Q. Coach, are you happy with the win today?
A. Zico- Of course I am very happy. We received an amazing reaction on the ground today and yet we had our feet on the ground. I am happy with my players’ performance. They gave their best in the practice matches and this is the fruit of that. I am very happy with the fans reactions who love football and Goa is very well represented here. I would like to congratulate the fans for the victory.

Q. How do you sense your chances against Chennai and Kolkata?
A. Zico- We are taking one step at a time. Now we have to focus only on Chennai next. They had a very good result which puts them in a very good spot. We are going to play with the same disposition and same desire and we will try to get more points

Q. There have been hardly any changes in the team in the last few matches. Is it because everything is going right or fear that things might go wrong?
A. Zico- In Brazil we always say that the team that is winning, doesn’t change. So we have kept the same team and haven’t moved the players. Many players are doing well and they have no injuries, so there is no need for a change.

Q. How difficult is to leave Robert Pires out of the matches on a consistent basis?
A. Zico- I don’t think I need to talk about that. I made the change in the midfield and they are playing well. But I want Pires to continue with the practice and so when he gets the opportunity to play, he is fit to play.

Q. The coach has selected you to play consistently. How does it feel to be replacing the likes of Clifford Miranda and playing in the final 11?
A. Mandar- I give my best in the every practice session and my teammates help me. Even Clifford Miranda helps me in everything. I feel great to play in his place

The post Happy with the team performance – Zico appeared first on Football Counter.

I am very satisfied with how the team performed today. According to me the team played really well. They created many opportunities to score. We had very good control over the game. They ran really very fast and well. They fought a good fight. The other team had opportunities, and they scored two goals. So that’s the thing with football. I think the important thing is that the players fought until the last minute. It was not the result what we wanted, but we carry on and try our best and overcome this loss. Losing a game at home is never good.

According to you what went wrong?

We had two mistakes. First our side was always look towards the defense to maintain our structure and Prabir was out of position hence the goal was scored.

The second goal was scored by Elano. I know Elano from the age of 16 and I told Jan Seda that he will always take the freekick from the goalkeeper’s side. If you ever have to take a freekick you have to always take it over the wall.

What is your message to fans?

Thank you to the fans. Thank you for your support. The team gave them it all they had. But in football sometimes these things happen. We started with a defeat but in football these things happen. We started with a defeat but it was great football.

Thank you for all the support and believing in us. I think they saw that the team has fought till the last minute and this is how football is. I think we played played very good football.

What did you think of Pires’ play?

He was great. He played the whole 90 minutes. No doubt he will help a lot.  He played well in his position. He played with rigour. He has very good balance on the field. He showed great professionalism on the field and he helped the players a lot.

What did you think of the opposing team?

They are an experienced team no doubt. They faked injuries, they made hard tackles. They showed their experience in the way they played. Our team played football. Their team didn’t.

What was the atmosphere like?

It was the first match and fans has turned up in large numbers to see FC goa play. I hope they continue to come and support their team. the first step was good. Hope everyone comes together for football.

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