FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez has admitted he needs to be more courageous in rotating his squad and giving more playing time to players on the bench as the Indian Super League (ISL) season progresses. Speaking ahead of FC Goa’s upcoming clash against East Bengal, the Spanish coach reflected on the early stages of the league and the challenges that lie ahead.

Foreign Players Influencing Early ISL Standings

Marquez believes the teams currently leading the table are largely those with a higher number of foreign players. Clubs such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Jamshedpur FC have started strongly, which he attributes partly to their experienced overseas signings. At the other end of the table are teams with fewer foreign players, including Mohammedan Sporting. However, Marquez pointed out that FC Goa has been an exception to this trend. The Super Cup champions have made a solid start to the season with seven points from their first three matches despite having only two foreign players in the squad. He also praised Odisha FC, describing their start as impressive given the limited preparation time they had before the season began.

Strong Start but Bigger Tests Ahead

FC Goa began their campaign with a draw against league newcomers Inter Kashi but quickly bounced back with two consecutive wins against Mohammedan Sporting and SC Delhi. While satisfied with the results so far, Marquez acknowledged that the team will soon face stronger opposition. The next challenge comes with an away match against East Bengal, a team he considers one of the strongest contenders in the competition. According to Marquez, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal remain the top teams in the league, while Jamshedpur FC also look formidable with their strong squad of foreign players.

Fixture Concerns Raised

The coach also questioned the fixture distribution in the league schedule. Jamshedpur FC will play nine home matches during the season, while FC Goa have only six at home. Marquez said such differences could affect teams over the course of the tournament, although he accepted that the schedule has already been finalized.

Reliance on Overseas Goal Scorers

So far this season, FC Goa’s attacking success has mainly come from their foreign players. All four of the team’s goals have been scored by Dejan Drazic and Pol Moreno. While Indian players have created opportunities, they have struggled to convert chances in front of goal. Despite that, Marquez remains satisfied with the team’s performance, pointing out that many ISL teams are currently relying on foreign players for goals.

Coach Calls for More Squad Rotation

One aspect that concerns the coach is his limited rotation of the starting lineup. In the first three matches, the team has largely remained unchanged, with only minor adjustments made due to injuries or tactical needs. Marquez admitted that he needs to show greater bravery in giving opportunities to other players. He cited Bengaluru FC coach Renedy Singh as an example of a manager willing to take risks by fielding young players and giving them valuable match experience. According to Marquez, maintaining a competitive squad requires involving more players in matches rather than relying on the same starting eleven.

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New Faces Could Appear Soon

The coach indicated that changes could soon be made to the lineup in upcoming matches. He believes that introducing three or four fresh players would not weaken the team and could help keep the squad motivated and training sessions competitive. As FC Goa prepare to face tougher opponents in the coming rounds of the ISL, Marquez’s willingness to rotate the squad could play a crucial role in maintaining the team’s momentum throughout the season.