Ahead of India’s friendly fixture against Malaysia, head coach Manolo Marquez and forward Edmund Lalrindika shared their thoughts in the pre-match press conference.
Head coach Manolo Marquez showcased his eagerness to display his team’s improvements and get the team’s first win under him, which would also be the first for the Blue Tigers this year, “It’s a friendly game, but a good opportunity to check how we perform against one of the best teams in the Pot 2 qualifiers. We obviously want to win, especially after a long time without a win. While I’d prefer to win an official game, this match allows us to showcase the improvements we’ve made in training sessions.
Meanwhile Edmund expressed his satisfaction with the training camp and wants to break the winless streak of the Blue Tigers, “This is our second training camp with the coach. The training sessions have been great, and everyone understands what the coach demands from us. We’re hoping for our first win under him, though we know it won’t be easy. I believe in this team, and we’re looking forward to the game. Hopefully, it will be a good one for us.”
Marquez added that friendlies against quality opponents is important and it is not a matter of FIFA rankings to decide which opponent is good, “For me, the ranking is not always accurate. The worst team in Africa can be better than many other teams from different continents. There are teams ranked above us that we can beat, and some below us that are difficult to face. Rankings are misleading because if you lose one official game, you lose many points, and winning a friendly adds a lot of points. So, while rankings matter, we need to focus on our own improvement. We can’t just play against weaker teams to feel good. This game against Malaysia will show us where we stand.”
When asked about his predecessor Igor Stimac, he had praises for the Croatian , “I don’t like to comment much on other coaches. In my opinion, the former coach did a good job. It’s not easy to be in a country for five seasons, and every coach has ups and downs. We are focused on our job and need time to find the right group. I feel that we’re improving, and with more training, we can achieve better results.”
About the final shape of India’s squad, Marquez said, “After four months, the picture will be clearer. Some players who may not be performing at their best now could improve, and vice versa. But the core group will likely remain the same. We need to include players who perform well up until March and beyond, especially with the ISL playoffs coming up after that.”
The Spanish coach expressed his happiness to be back in Hyderabad, the venue for the friendly, “It’s always a pleasure to be in Hyderabad. It’s like my first love in India, and I’m also happy in Goa. Managing both jobs is not a problem for me. When I was younger, I even played football while working another job. It’s about being professional. I have more work now, but I’m focused and committed. People may criticize when we don’t win, but that’s part of the job.
When asked about areas the team needs to improve in, coach added, “We need to improve in all aspects—attack, defense, transitions, and set pieces. Football is a game of mistakes, and the team that makes fewer mistakes usually wins. We know Malaysia plays good football, and it will be a tough game for both sides.”
Edmund feels physically and mentally prepared for the tie, “I’ve been in preseason with my club for about one and a half months, so I’m ready mentally and physically. I have no fitness issues and am looking forward to the game.”
Marquez feels the atmosphere in the camp is high, “It’s always important to stay focused. Even though this is the last FIFA window, the players are very concentrated and ready for tomorrow’s game. We’ve had good training sessions, and the motivation is high.”
Edmund did not have much difficulty in adapting under Marquez,” It hasn’t been difficult because the coach is great, both on and off the field. Everyone is comfortable with him, and I’m enjoying playing under him. We’ll see how things go tomorrow.”
When asked about responsibility as being the only player from the I-League, Edmund said, “It doesn’t matter if you’re from the I-League or ISL, representing your country is always an honor. My mentality is to give everything for my country, and hopefully, my performance will encourage the coach to look at more players from the I-League.”
Marquez added that Indian Super League (ISL) has helped him understand Indian players better, “This is my fifth season in India, and it definitely helps. I know most of the Indian players from both ISL and I-League. While foreign players occupy key positions in my club team, I have a deep understanding of the Indian players, which aids my national team duties.”
