The second pre-quarter final of the 2019 Hero Super Cup features Hero I-League club Indian Arrows take on Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) side FC Goa at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. FC Goa finished as runners-up in the 2018-19 season of the Hero ISL and will thus be hoping to end the season with some silverware. Indian Arrows, on the other hand, will be confident of gaining a result after defeating Kerala Blasters during the qualifiers a fortnight ago.

Head coach of the Indian Arrows team, Floyd Pinto was present at the pre-match press conference to share his thoughts on the tie. The young coach began by addressing the quality of opposition his side would be facing but remained confident of a positive result. “Yes we are playing against one of teams that contested the finals in the ISL. You are playing against one of the best attacking teams in the country, so it is definitely going to be a tough game. On the flipside we are one of the top three teams when it comes to form. So, we would like to take that momentum into the game and make it a good game for the spectators to enjoy,” he remarked.

Continuing on a similar note, Pinto shed light on what fans can expect from two attack-minded teams: “It is going to be a good game because both teams don’t like to sit back. Both teams want to be involved in the game. It is the team that makes the better decisions on the pitch. It is the team that makes the least mistakes that is going to come out on top. We need to be the best that we can be on the pitch.”

Talking about the pitch at the Kalinga Stadium, Pinto commented, “I think it is one of the best pitches in the country. Apart from the Salt Lake Stadium, I think it is one of the best pitches in the country and all the teams participating in the Super Cup would enjoy playing some good football in this pitch.”

From FC Goa’s end, head coach Sergio Lobera presented his ideas on Saturday’s match. He acknowledged the Arrows squad and felt his team would need to have the right attitude to have any chance of progressing. He said, “I think tomorrow we are facing a great team. If we are not at our 100%, we will not be able to get the victory. They are a strong team which is used to playing at this time, under these weather conditions. As I said before, if we are not at our 100%, it would be a tough game.”

The Spaniard then, gave a brief insight into his tactics and how he goes about integrating the players in it regardless of their nationality. “It is true that we are an attacking side and we try to display that kind of football on the pitch. But regardless of the nationality of the players, we always try to apply that idea on the pitch. I’m very happy that I can display that kind of football in this team,” he said.

Lobera also spoke about the absence of midfield general, Ahmed Jahouh from tomorrow’s squad. “Rules are rules and we have to stick to them. From seven foreigners it got down to six. So, one of the foreigners had to be out. I expect it to not affect the team because this team is above any individuality.”

The 42-year-old had some familiar words when questioned about the importance of striker, Ferran Corominas. “My opinion is the same as anyone who can see Corominas on the TV. As a coach, I’ve been lucky to have met him personally. He’s been a football player that has helped us a lot on the pitch and outside the pitch, he’s been phenomenal, and he has been key for us in those two years. I’m lucky to have him with the team,” he said.