Ready for the fight: Marquez will hope to get back at Khalid, who did an ISL double over the Spanish gaffer.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez will look to rally his men for one last time and secure his first silverware at the club when it takes on Jamshedpur FC in the Super Cup 2025 final at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
Goa breezed past a second-string Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 in the semifinals while JFC edged Mumbai City FC 1-0.
With an AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) Preliminary Round spot up for grabs, a win will be a perfect parting gift for Marquez, who will shift his focus towards managing the Indian men’s national team.
Third time’s the charm
Marquez will hope that the third time’s the charm for him against his opposite number, Khalid Jamil, who became the first gaffer to do an Indian Super League double over Marquez since he arrived on Indian shores in 2020.
However, the Spanish coach affirmed that none of the past results were playing on his or the players’ minds.
Different challenge
“Every game is different. Now, it’s just about two teams trying to win one game to secure a slot in the Asian competition,” Marquez said during the pre-match press conference.
Leading the charge
The overseas players have led the charge for Goa, scoring six out of its eight goals in the tournament so far.
Spanish forward Iker Guarrotxena has found the back of the net four times, while Borja Herrera has scored twice.
On the other hand, in contrast to its league campaign, where it conceded the second-most goals, JFC’s defence has been its strongest suit so far in the competition and is yet to concede a goal.
Now, as the curtains are set to be pulled on a gruelling season of Indian club football, can Marquez end his reign over the Gaurs on a high, or will Khalid play spoilsport and lead JFC to its first-ever continental football?
Published – May 02, 2025 07:11 pm IST
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