FC Goa look to get campaign back on track

Having lost a close match to Mumbai City in their last game, Goa will look to get their campaign back on track when they take on NorthEast United on Sunday. A win tomorrow can see them go fourth.

Currently sixth, with 19 points from 11 games, Sergio Lobera’s men have two games in hand over third-placed Pune City and three over fourth-placed Jamshedpur , both tied on 22 points.

“At this point in time, if they let me chose between 4th, 5th or 6th having played all the games or be in a position to have games in hand, I would prefer to have games in hand. That gives us an opportunity to climb up the table. I’m sure other coaches will prefer that too” Lobera said.

The former Barcelona youth coach also brushed aside talks of pressure on his side with others overtaking them since they last played. “Pressure doesn’t exist for us at this point in time, for us, there is only excitement. Excitement to improve on the difficult season last year,” he said.

Goa have acquired the services of Moroccan midfielder Hugo Adnan Boumous. But the home side will be without midfielder Seriton Fernades, who was sent off in the last match. Talking about his team, Lobera said, “there will be changes in the team. But whatever the changes we make our style of play will remain the same.”

No doubt, Goa are one of the favorites to seal a top-four place. But, they first need to get past NorthEast United. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Goa lost 1-2.

NorthEast United may have lost all hopes of making it to the playoffs. But, they would still want to finish the season on a high. Under Avram Grant.

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