ISL 2022-23: We need to be positive about this season – Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau

Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau feels they need to be positive regarding this season despite getting knocked out. The Juggernauts suffered a 2-0 loss in the second knockout match against ATK Mohun Bagan at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata on Saturday.

Despite the loss in the big game, there were a lot of positives for the Kalinga Warriors. This was the first time they qualified for the playoff stages of the Hero ISL after they finished the league stage in the sixth position with nine wins in 20 matches.

Meanwhile, Hugo Boumous and Dimitri Petratos scored for the Mariners to help them qualify for the semifinal against Hyderabad FC.

Gombau was satisfied with the performance of his team in the first half despite the loss.

“I think we had a good game. In the first few minutes, our team played well, we got a good chance to score with Diego Mauricio and after that we conceded a goal from a quick corner. It’s something that we worked on and we have spoken. But we lost this concentration for a short time and conceded the goal. In the second half. We tried to score but in one of these actions in our build-up, they recovered the ball from us and they made a quick transition and scored. After that, it was very difficult,” Gombau said in the post-match press conference.

“Of course (we’re) sad that we lost, but I think that we played a good game. I cannot say anything to my players. We need to be positive about this season, with the way we played. ATK Mohun Bagan have played well (tonight) and I congratulate them,” he added.

Odisha FC’s gaffer feels his players need to learn from their mistakes and make a solid comeback in the next season.

“It was a good football game. Both teams tried to have the ball and tried to attack but in the end, ATK Mohun Bagan have very good players with experience (whereas) we have a lot of young players in our squad. I think that we had a decent season. We did quite well for sure. We need to learn from our mistakes like we did today. The goals came from our own mistakes, say a lack of concentration in defending the set pieces and in buildup plays, where the opposition team got the ball from us. Always you have things to improve in football,” he added.

Odisha FC will next play in the Super Cup and the head coach wants his players to recharge their batteries till then.

“Now it’s a moment to rest after this loss and we will have a week off for the players and after that we will have three, four weeks to prepare for the Super Cup. Waiting for the draw and the place, we need to play and after that we will go and we will take it very seriously as every time that we play a game. We will try to progress in the Super Cup, it is a good competition and also in some moments, we can give some (playing time) to players who didn’t have much time in the league. This is our mentality and we would go there and try to win also,” he concluded.