Kochi: Brazil and Spain are geographically located thousands of miles apart. Likewise, FC Goa’s third and fourth seasons in the Indian Super League (ISL) are poles apart in terms of the team’s shape, strategy and tactical approach.
The Gaurs, who pinned hopes on Samba magic to boost their chances in the last three seasons, will be a completely different squad, with a new line-up, a new philosophy and a new playing style, all brought in by new coach Sergio Lobera Rodriguez after the management decided to part ways with Brazilian legend Zico.
The team has been rebuilt from scratch after a disastrous campaign last year which saw them languishing at the bottom of the table. Obviously, a major overhaul was inevitable after such a frustrating season.
Last year, there were eight Brazilian players in the team, and out of the nine coaching staff, five were Brazil-born. On the contrary, the franchise has not signed a single Brazilian for the upcoming season. Of the eight foreign recruits in the new-look team, six are from Spain. Moreover, FC Goa’s pre-season camp, which took place in Brazil ahead of the last three seasons, was in Spain this year.
Going into the new season, they will be banking on the experience of their Spanish recruits who have proved their mettle for different sides in the La Liga.
Though they decided against retaining the service of foreigners from the last season, some of the Indian players from the previous edition were offered a new contract to ensue some sense of continuity in the squad. Apart from Romeo Fernandes, who joined Delhi Dynamos, FC Goa have retained a couple of familiar yet dependable local faces.
Spanish attacking flair
The team’s forward line-up will have a different complexion this season following the departure of a number of established players.
Their attacks will be orchestrated by the Spanish duo of Ferran Corominas and Adrian Colunga. With several years of top-flight football in Spain under his belt, Corominas will be a vital cog in Goa’s wheel. He was a prominent member of the Espanyol side which won the 2006 Copa del Rey.
Colunga, who spent the majority of his professional career with Getafe and Las Palmas, too is an experienced campaigner. International Manvir Singh and young local talent Liston Colaco add Indian flavor to FC Goa’s attack.
Foreign trio to boost midfield
The midfield, featuring former Real Zaragoza player Manuel Lanzarote, former Barcelona 'B' player Eduardo Bedia, commonly known as Edu Bedia, Spanish winger Manuel Arana, who was released by Australian club Brisbane FC, and Moroccan international Ahmed Jahouh is certainly strong enough to set their sights higher. On paper, this is FC Goa’s best midfield combination as compared to that of previous seasons.
Arana and Lanzarote will take care of the wings while Bedia will be marshaling the center of the field.
FC Goa have also picked up some exciting Indian talent in the form of Mandar Rao, Brandon Fernandes, Pronay Halder, Pratesh Shirodkar, and Anthony D’Souza to strengthen their midfield.
Rock-hard defense
Barcelona 'B' player Sergio Marin and Bruno Pinheiro, who used to be a regular member in Portuguese junior squads, will be the pillars of strength in FC Goa’s defense. Left-back Narayan Das returns to the side after one season away at FC Pune City. The remaining players who will be holding the defense are the promising Chinglensana Singh, and Goan players Seriton Fernandes, Jovel Martins, and Jonathan Cardozo.
They have also done well to retain goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani. Sporting Clube de Goa shot-stopper Bruno Colaco and Naveen Kumar, who played for Salgaocar in the I-League, will be his assistants.
The coach
Like Kerala Blasters coach Rene Meulensteen, Sergio Lobera Rodríguez is somebody who became a trainer without having much playing experience at the highest level. He began his coaching career with the youth team of FC Barcelona about two decades ago and was part of the late Tito Vilanova's backroom staff. He has previously coached La Liga side Las Palmas and Moghreb Tetouan in Morocco.
“I am very excited to have joined FC Goa and I consider this a wonderful opportunity. We will have a whole new game plan and approach. Holding possession with short passes will be an important part of out game plan,” he said after taking charge of the side.
Star to watch
Ferran Corominas Telechea, commonly known as Coro, who plied his trade in the Spain's top-flight league for over a decade, will bring a ton of experience to the Goa outfit, having notched up over 250 appearances for clubs like Espanyol, Elche, and Mallorca in the La Liga. The 34-year-old forward, who was part of different Spanish junior sides, can play as a midfielder as well.
Top-3 Indian stars
Mandar Rao Desai
Age: 25
Role: Winger
Manvir Singh
Age: 22
Role: Striker
Pronay Halder
Age: 24
Role: Midfielder
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