‘All eyes will be trained on FC Goa’

Panaji: It doesn’t take much time for Manolo Marquez to sense that the players are taking it a bit easy at the Field of Dreams in Guirim. In the middle of a training session when a couple of passes go astray and there’s lack of intensity, the FC Goa coach loses his cool.

He's wild, like never before, and pauses the session, making the players know what’s on his mind. There’s no holding back. The players say nothing, some of them probably wishing dinosaurs weren't extinct and could be whistled to come and gulp them down.It’s no surprise why the experienced Spanish coach does not want to leave anything to chance. Up against Al Seeb, the Oman league champions and AFC Cup winners in 2022, Goa will have to punch above their weight to win the AFC Champions League Two playoff at Fatorda on Wednesday. “It’s a very, very important game for us,” club CEO Ravi Puskur told TOI on Monday. “Given the lack of competitive football in Indian football right now, all eyes will be trained on us. We are a club that always aspires to try and prove ourselves at the highest level. We are trying to increase the standard of the club, and this game allows us an opportunity to do that. It’s very important that the team goes out there and puts on a good show.

If we can be on the right side of the result, nothing like it.”A win for Goa will take them to the AFC Champions League Two group stage, which includes Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo. A loss means they’ll have to compete in the third-tier AFC Challenge League. Goa are playing at home, so that’s some advantage, never mind they’ll be facing a side that has seven Oman national team players, all fighting to take the nation to the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

The visitors have also recently signed Senegal centre-forward Abdoul Aziz Cisse.Al Seeb have been busy preparing for the single-leg ACL Two playoff. The Muscat-based side played the Super Cup against Al Shabab, losing 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw. They also took part in a four-team friendly tournament in Salalah, where they faced Oman Professional League sides Al-Nasr SCSC and Dhofar Club, besides the Oman U-23 team.Goa haven’t had any such luxuries. Manolo’s side has played three friendlies – Dempo SC, Clube de Salgaocar and India U-23 – but nothing to match the intensity of what awaits them at Fatorda on Wednesday. With the club skipping Durand Cup and Indian Super League (ISL) facing an uncertain future, the ACL Two playoff will be their first competitive game of the season.“Unfortunately we are at the mercy of the calendar. Could we have liked a couple of league games, rather than a few friendlies, of course, yes. But that’s not something that we can control. Perhaps this is a learning for the authorities to realise what a strong and stable ecosystem brings. It would help prepare better for Asian competitions,” said Puskur.