Kolkata: A resurgent FC Goa will aim to continue their winning run when they take on Kerala Blasters at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday. Playing their second consecutive match at home after the 4-3 toppling over Bengaluru, coach Sergio Lobera is confident of his boys putting up another solid performance against the Kerala side.
The Blasters may have failed to win a single match but possess one of the strongest defence having conceded just one goal in the last three matches. Spanish Lobera however refused to call his opposition defensive and instead reiterated of his own team’s strengths rather than the enemy’s weakness.
“I wouldn’t call them defensive because they have some brilliant players going forward and are very organised in attack. We will look at ourselves and what we can do more than what the other team can do,” said the gaffer.
Rene Meulensteen on the other hand sounded relieved that his team have finally broken their goal drought against Mumbai, but still aims for their first three points, a win.
“(Am I) concerned? No. Disappointed? Yes. But we have progressed over the last three games and this is another game for us to test where we stand. It’s different because we haven’t played an away game yet. But more than anything, we focus on progressing,” he said.
The former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester Untied, Meulensteen was full of praise for FC Goa and their ‘playing style’ that can surprise quite a few opponents. But “We’re well aware of their strengths and we will have to deal with it and we are prepared for it,” he added also hinting that Dimitar Berbatov may continue in his new role and drive the game from the middle of the park.
Both the sides have won three matches each in the past six encounters, but Kerala have won both the last two encounters.
Playing with an attacking flair and fluid-passing the ‘Gaurs’ have scored eight goals but have also conceded seven, showcasing their defensive frailness. Kerala however have their own problems, while they have conceded just a goal, they have failed to score a goal in the last two of their three encounters, breaking their deadlock in the 1-1 draw against Mumbai.