Manolo Marquez ‘Angry, Disappointed’ After India’s Goalless Draw Against Bangladesh
Manolo Marquez was at a loss for words after the Indian men’s football team started AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C campaign with a goalless draw against Bangladesh.
Indian men’s football team head coach Manolo Marquez was visibly shaken and disturbed after being held to a goalless draw by Bangladesh in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Tuesday.
Bangladesh had a chance to take the lead early when goalkeeper Vishal Kaith’s clearance landed to a Bangladeshi player, but the midfielder’s shot hit just the side net.
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“When you enter the game and you concede the chance you did within five seconds," Manolo started the post-match press conference.
“The game started with one pass back, and the goalkeeper passed the ball straight to the striker. But even without the goalkeeper in front, the striker missed. This has nothing to do with experience. It’s about how you enter the game. And today, it wasn’t just one player—practically, it was every single player."
“Practically I don’t want to speak much," he added.
India did have a few chances but failed to make the most of them as several goal-line clearances and blocks made sure the Blue Tigers would walk away from the contest with at least one point.
Team India head coach looked angry and yet sad at his team’s performance.
“If you ask me, maybe today is the most difficult press conference in my career because I don’t want to say all the things that are in my head in this moment," he said.
“We played a bad game and that’s all. In the second half we tried, but not enough."
“I am very angry, disappointed with everyone. I do not have words for this poor performance.
“Liston was a positive on the left side but it was not enough. This is not enough. Maybe this is the reality of Indian football," he added.
Manolo was in no mood to count excuses, as he put it, but stressed on the facts.
“A lot of very important players—starters—are not here because of injuries, but that is not an excuse. Even if we were playing good football, we would still need to improve in all areas—defence, attack, transitions, everything," he said.
“Some players arrived after playing just two days ago, while others hadn’t played in a week. Physical condition is not the same for everyone. But again, that’s not the reason we played badly," he added.
India will surely rue their missed chance of starting of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C match with a win at home, as the other two teams in the group, Singapore and Hong Kong, also played out a goalless draw.
The Blue Tigers travel for their second match, away to Hong Kong on June 10 later this year.
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