Playing in the AFC Cup will be a new challenge for the club: Odisha FC’s Diego Mauricio

Odisha FC’s forward Diego Mauricio feels playing in the AFC Cup will be a new challenge for the club. There is no doubt that playing in the AFC Cup will pose a more difficult challenge for the Kalinga Warriors and they will look to look to be at their best in the tournament.

Earlier, Odisha FC registered a 3-1 win against Gokulam Kerala and book its berth in the group stages of the AFC Cup.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian forward won the prestigious Golden Boot award with an impressive tally of 12 goals and four assists in 21 games in the ISL 2022-23 season. Ergo played an instrumental role in taking the Juggernauts to their first-ever playoffs in the history of the ISL.

Odisha then clinched the Hero Super Cup by beating Bengaluru FC by 2-1 in the summit clash. The Juggernauts also defeated teams like Aizwal FC, Hyderabad FC, and NorthEast United FC (semifinal) en route to glory in the tournament.

Speaking to the official website of the ISL, Mauricio shed light on how it feels to win the Golden Boot award, “The feeling is nice because (I am) the top scorer in the league. (I) scored a lot of goals, and the team played well. For me, I think this season was the best season of my life. I am feeling great because I put (my) everything this season and it gave me back so many good things.”

Mauricio added his focus was on the training sessions in the tournament and he wanted to give his best for the team.

He added, “There were a lot of players and many strikers. In India, there are plenty of good players, but for me, I do my job every day in training. I push myself harder because for me you have to push yourself and it is impossible to win something without pushing yourself. You take the individual trophies, you take the collective trophies, and it is impossible to win them without pushing yourself. This season, everything has been good.”

The striker played under the tutelage of Josep Gombau in the ISL and then played under Clifford Miranda, who was promoted to the head coach position in the Super Cup after Gombau parted ways with the club.

Speaking on both coaches’ influence, Mauricio said, “I think both of them were very good, starting with Josep and then finishing the campaign with Clifford. I spent a long time with Josep. He helped me a lot, as well as the team. He brought out the best from his players.”

Odisha FC was able to come up with a collective show and they will look to carry the good show in the AFC Cup under new coach Sergio Lobera.