Q. How does it feel to play in Kolkata against Kolkata?
A. Debabrata- This is not a new experience for me. In fact I have played in Kolkata against Kolkata couple of times before. I actually enjoy it. Tomorrow’s match is very critical for the Kolkata team, considering their game performances in the last few matches. Atletico de Kolkata is a very strong team. Right at this moment, the team is going through a bad phase. They are not dependent on their match with us. They have their own qualities and can make up with them.

Q. How is your team unity now?
A. Debabrata- The unity in our team is very strong. We have consistently played because of the same. Our performance has been consistent from the start to the semi final. We were just not getting the results initially. Otherwise our performance has been quite good and so has been our team unity.

Q. You have already reached the semi finals. From that perspective, how serious are you for tomorrow’s match? And how do you view tomorrow’s match? Any particular player from the Atletico de Kolkata team you are particularly worried about?
A. Debabrata- Each match is critical to our success, so each match is very important to us. Atletico de Kolkata is obviously a very strong team; therefore there is no one particular player that can be named.

Q. There was a phase when you played well, but were not getting results. How difficult was it for you to keep faith on yourself and on your coach?
A. Debabrata- It was actually a reverse situation. Despite the losses, the coach kept his faith high on us and the team and encouraged us all along.

Q. How does it feel to be training under a legendary player like Zico?
A. Debabrata- This is a great experience for me. I am immensely enjoying this entire experience. This training experience is like a dream come true for me.

Q. Eight years back when you came to Kolkata, you came as a coach for Japan. You had a disappointing experience on this ground. You have come back on this ground with a different team. How would you describe your comeback and what do you expect?
A. Zico- Last time we had come here for the World Cup qualifiers and we were expecting everything to be right. I was not disappointed at all last time because we had received good response from the viewers here. So I have good memories of Kolkata. The only difference I see now is that last time it was real grass and now it is artificial turf and I don’t think it is suitable to play football.

Q. How difficult is it to put out a team for a game like this where you don’t want your players to rest and yet you don’t want to lose the match?
A. Zico- I already have made a decision about tomorrow’s game and I have already kept the team ready for it and you will get to know tomorrow.

Q. Can you tell us about the first eleven for tomorrow?
A. Zico- You will get to know about it tomorrow.

Q. Who would you rather face in the semi finals, Chennaiyin FC or Atletico de Kolkata?
A. Zico- We can’t choose. We have qualified for the semifinals; we are ready and are well prepared to face any team.

Q. You have coached many teams around the world. Considering the circumstances here, your team was last at one point and the qualified for the semifinals. Would you say that this has been one of the best moments for you as a coach?
A. Zico- Of course it s one of the greatest moments of my career because it is not easy to have a turnaround like this just before the semifinals. Moreover, now every team is fighting for the top spot.

Q. Would you ask your boys to restrain temper on the pitch tomorrow?
A. Zico- I always tell all the teams that I have coached, to go on the field and play football and nothing else.

Q. What is the strong point for Atletico de Kolkata?
A. It is a great team with good and experienced players and due to which they have reached in the top four.

Q. Do you think Andre Santos is the best player in your team?
A. Zico- He is one of the best players since he is doing really well. But there are other players also in the team who are doing great.

The post FC Goa pre match press conference transcript – FC Goa vs Atletico de Kolkata appeared first on Football Counter.

Zico: Well, there may be

Any injured players. Is Youness injured ?

Zico: Not Youness. Gregory’s knee is injured a bit, but he’s okay.

The team is playing well, but is lacking in their finish. Ladyluck not in your favor?

Zico:No. I don’t believe in luck. Maybe we are making the wrong choices when it comes to scoring goals. We are not paying attention to some of the things we work on during trainings.  We have to practice well so that we can do what we are supposed to on when we get onto the field for a match. During practice sessions I try and bring every inch of my experience to show the players what to expect, what can happen, what to avoid so that the team can focus on what they have learnt during training sessions. But we have to carry on. We have to believe in ourselves. We have to be brave and be perseverant. The road is long. As long as there is life we have to survive. We are breathing.

ISL is a short competition. Is there time to share your philosophy with the team or do you have to stick to sharing some basic principles?

Zico:I didn’t choose the players. So we need to understand the personality and skills of players and do our best within their capacity. We have so many players in the same position and not many in other positions. But we need to adapt and do the best we can in the circumstances.  We have to adapt to the characteristics and skills of the players we have onboard. For example; we don’t have players on the sides, wingers, who can mark well. The players I have are fast and skillful, but I can’t change their strengths overnight and ask them to mark players.

Mandar, Goan players have been playing well across teams. What’s lacking in the home team despite home support?

Mandar:We are trying hard and playing well, but we haven’t been able to score many goals. But we have been training well and look forward to tomorrow’s game

The team have mostly conceded goals on counter attack. Are you working on this aspect?

Zico: Yes. We are working on it not happening again. But when the other team scores first, we have to move forward to attack. Our defense is then open and that’s when we have the counter attacks.

How does it feel living in a country where football is not the number one sport, which is the case in Brazil.

Zico:I hope that will be the case in India one day. It reminds me of the time I spent in Japan. Football was not the 1^st or even the 2^nd most popular sport. Maybe it was the 7^th. But now in Japan, football and baseball are fighting for the first place. And we are here to change the  situation in India.

But we don’t need to compare between cricket and football. Indian has a population of over 1 billion people. There is place for all sports and for sure there is space for football. I would like to see sports like volleyball, basketball, swimming, athletics and other sports because sports is good for people. In Brazil, US, Japan and some other countries, there are many sports being played and I hope that will be the case in India as well. Sports is good for the country.

Do you see potential in India to be a footballing nation in the future?

Zico: If we can change some mindsets, maybe we can see it someday. We need to mainly make changes in the diet of sportsmen and in the grassroots/youth development programmes. An athlete needs to maintain a proper diet. I say this not in the context of the culture of the country. But we need to encourage players and athletes to follow a specific diet which is catered to their specific needs.

The post FC Goa pre-match press conference addressed by Coach Zico and player Mandar Rao Desai appeared first on Football Counter.