ISL 2021-22: Juan Ferrando’s magic mantra at FC Goa; Bury past, focus on present!

However,
by
the
time
the
Gaurs’ Indian
Super
League
(ISL)
campaign
ended
in
March,
everyone
had
begun
to
sit
up
and
take
notice
again.

It
took
a
heartbreak
deep
into
sudden
death
to
knock
FC
Goa
out
of
the
competition.

However,
that
was
not
before
the
Gaurs
had
set
sail
on
a
record-breaking
15
match
unbeaten
streak
–
an
ISL
record.

ISL
2021-22
FC
Goa
Team
Preview:
Squad,
Fixtures,
Key
Players,
Strength,
Weakness,
Predictions

The
Gaurs
rounded
off
last
season
with
an
impressive
showing
in
the
AFC
Champions
League
in
April.

And
in
September,
FC
Goa
began
their
preparation
for
the
ISL
in
style
–
winning
their
first
ever
Durand
Cup.

Ferrando,
though,
does
not
want
any
emphasis
to
be
laid
on
past
achievements
as
FC
Goa
go
on
the
hunt
for
their
first
ever
ISL
title.

Speaking
at
the
official

FC
Goa
Media
Day,
Ferrando
however,
did
not
want
to
stress
on
the
task
of
winning
the
trophy
just
as
yet.

“This
is
a
new
season,
a
new
chapter.
We
are
all
positive
heading
into
the
new
season.
The
focus,
though,
is
not
in
the
past.
We
are
not
thinking
about
being
knocked
out
in
the
semis.
The
important
thing
is
to
put
focus
in
the
present,”
said
Ferrando.

“Of
course,
from
the
past
experiences,
we
learn
some
details.
We
better
understand
moments
of
the
game
and
about
the
team.
The
most
important
thing
right
now
is
to
focus
on
the
present
so
that
we
can
have
a
better
future.”

Last
season
saw
Ferrando
face
a
real
challenge
in
his
very
first
season.
With
the
threat
of
COVID-19
pandemic
looming
large,
the
head
coach
had
little
over
three
weeks
in
the
pre-season
to
set
up
his
plans
with
a
team
that
was
largely
new.

This
year,
the
Gaurs
assembled
in
August
for
the
pre-season
with
the
Durand
Cup
acting
as
a
good
platform
for
the
team
to
gel
together.

“I’m
happy
with
the
pre-season.
The
club
trusted
my
process
and
helped
to
get
the
squad
together
as
early
as
possible.
Of
course
that
helps
in
the
tactical
and
technical
part
of
it.
However,
what
it
also
helps
is
getting
the
players
to
know
each
other
better,”
added
Ferrando.

“We
have
to
remember
that
players
are
not
robots.
They
have
emotions.
The
team
(as
a
unit)
has
emotions.
If
we
are
able
to
have
a
healthy
relationship,
it
becomes
easier
for
the
tactical
information
to
have
an
effect
on
the
pitch.
For
me
it’s
vital
that
the
players
are
in
a
good
frame
of
mind
heading
into
the
season
–
for
them
to
be
positive.

“For
now,
we
have
to
look
to
be
the
best
against
Mumbai,
then
Jamshedpur
and
then
against
each
of
the
opponents
we
play
–
step
by
step
and
improve
day
by
day.
This
is
the
secret
in
football.
The
same
in
business.
And
in
all
aspects
of
life.”