ISL 2023-24: We lost control after Borja Herrera left the pitch – FC Goa’s Manolo Marquez after loss against Kerala Blasters FC

FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez admitted they lost control after Borja Herrera left the pitch against Kerala Blasters FC in the 16th matchweek of the ongoing Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi on Sunday. The Gaurs suffered a 4-2 loss against the Yellow Tuskers, which is their third consecutive loss of the season.

Rowllin Borges and Mohammad Yasir scored in the first half for the Gaurs but they squandered the lead as the hosts scored on four occasions after the break.

Meanwhile, Borja Herrera was forced off due to injury whereas Marquez substituted defender Nim Dorjee, who was already booked.

“I think that when Borja Herrera left the pitch, we lost control of the game,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“In one substitution, I was wrong. I substituted Nim (Dorjee) because he was on a yellow card. The substitution was wrong—completely wrong—because, in defence, we were a complete disaster (after he was subbed off). And in the middle of the pitch, we lost the control of the game that we had till the moment Borja (Herrera) was on the pitch,” he added.

The Spaniard was disappointed with the character of his players and felt it led to the downfall of the team.

“The game has finished just now. Now it’s very difficult to speak, but I think when you don’t have character, it’s very difficult. This team doesn’t have a character at this moment without Sandesh (Jhingan) and Victor (Rodriguez),” he stated.

“It’s a tough defeat (for us). But we are professionals; we need to play in three days in Mumbai and try to avoid this kind of second half (performance like today),” he continued.

The gaffer was happy with the team’s performance in the first half but reckons they veered off the track in the second half.

“Today we played well in the first half, especially in the first 25–30 minutes. But when the opponent created one (goal-scoring) chance, the team was very weak at the moment. You can check when NorthEast United FC, Mohun Bagan SG, scored the goal against us. The team doesn’t have the capacity to react (on time),” Marquez said.

“We missed a leader on the pitch. We don’t have it at this moment. I am the most responsible one because I am the coach. Then three defeats in a row, but this is football. We need to keep going, and we need to go to Mumbai, where they are in a good moment, and try to turn the situation around,” he signed off.

FC Goa will next face Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Wednesday.