‘Players Have To Believe In Our Style Of Play’, Says Manolo Marquez Ahead Of India’s Friendly Against Malaysia

Last Updated:November 12, 2024, 20:24 IST

The Blue Tigers’ head coach Marquez asserted it was of essence that everyone involved in the setup pull together in a synchronised manner to take the level of the side forward.

Head coach of the Indian national football team Manolo Marquez asserted it was of essence that everyone involved in the setup pull together in a synchronised manner to take the level of the side forward.

The Blue Tigers began their national training camp in Hyderabad on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming friendly against Malaysia, slated to be held on the 18th of November.

“We were supposed to play two games last month but due to external reasons, Lebanon couldn’t come,” Marquez began.

“For people, more games is better. But it’s difficult to train the day before and after the match. We need to train tactically as well,” he explained.

“I feel it’s necessary to prepare for not just the game against Malaysia but the official matches which will come in March,” the Spaniard added.

The 56-year-old has handed call-ups to Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Vibin Mohanan, Irfan Yadwad and Thoiba Singh Moirangthem in an exercise to find the perfectly balanced side.

“It’s true that we want to check some new players. But obviously it’s impossible to change the whole group and call 40 players in March. It’s true that we are finding the group. It means that we have maybe 14, 15, 16 players who will be there, but we don’t know exactly. And there are a lot of players who can get there,” he said.

“Obviously, it’s still four months, and the situation can change with a lot of things unfortunately with injuries and the players’ domestic form. But, I repeat again, as a coach you need to find the group which can play the style that we want,” Marquez explained.

“I am fully focused on the Malaysia match at the moment. In a way, it’s a dangerous game because the players are in the middle of the fight for the ISL and this is just one friendly game in November, and the next camp will be in four months,” he continued.

“But I am very confident in this group and I feel we will have a good performance next Monday,” said Marquez.

Marquez is still in search of his first win at the helm of the Indian national side following draws against Mauritius and Vietnam either side of a defeat to Syria since taking over.

“Obviously everyone wants to win every game. But the feeling we got after the draw with Vietnam was completely different from what we got after drawing with Mauritius or losing to Syria.

“In some moments, we played superbly. The one key thing is that the players have to believe in our style of play. I want to win every game and even every training session. The Malaysia game is the last friendly window before the official games.”