Panaji: Manolo Marquez has been left bemused with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs asking their players to take a salary cut this season and still making foreign additions. The experienced FC Goa coach has seen four of his six foreign players part ways with the club due to uncertainty surrounding Indian football, choosing to ply their trade outside the country. There will be no replacements, even if that makes the team weaker than at the start of season when they competed in the AFC Champions League Two, Asian football’s second tier club competition. “When you ask players to reduce salary and suddenly sign four-five (new) foreigners, I think it’s disrespectful to everyone,” Manolo told TOI after a training session at the Atal Stadium in Bambolim. “I am part of the decision (not to sign new foreign players) at the club. When you ask to reduce salaries by 10%, thank them, you can’t go ahead and make additions, spending more money. Even with (salary) deductions, it had to be equal for all players, whether Indian or foreigner. That’s what we did at Goa.” Goa looked like a strong unit at the start of the season, but the foreign exits have left them vulnerable, particularly in midfield. Without David Timor and Borja Herrera, the midfield won’t look the same, while the absence of Iker Guarrotxena and Javier Siverio could be felt upfront. Manolo, though, isn’t perturbed and will count on Serbian winger Dejan Drazic and Spanish defender Pol Moreno. “I am very happy that they are here. Dejan is a Serbian, but he’s more Indian now. He knows Goa better than most (players) and he’s always with the Indian players. Pol has his family here and he’s more settled. The group is close. We are enjoying the training sessions. Maybe we have lost some quality, but the group is disciplined. We are not playing fantastic football, but we are a difficult team to beat,” said Manolo. Except Mohammedan Sporting, who will field an all-Indian lineup due to a transfer ban, and Odisha FC who have just one foreign player on their roster, Goa will have the least foreign players. Manolo sees his team’s strengths differently. “The strength of this group is that they are all together,” said Manolo. “It was difficult (for the players to take a salary cut) but this was an exceptional situation like Covid-19 (pandemic). I feel you need to be grateful to the club that has given everything to you. It’s also true that these boys gave everything for the club. This is the reason why I say that, in my opinion, FC Goa is the club with the best organisation in the country.” Goa have promoted five players from their developmental side to the seniors with Sitroy Carvalho, Malsawmtlunga, Vellington Fernandes, Jovial Dias and Lionel Rymmei keen to grab the opportunity. Up against teams with double the foreign players that they will have on the field, Goa may find the going tough. But for a side that has won the Super Cup and already qualified for next season’s AFC Champions League Two playoff – the same prize offered for ISL champions – they won’t be burdened with expectations, particularly with just 13 games to be played in the top-tier league this season. “I have a lot of hope that we will have a good season, with a lot of young guys, a lot of players who want to show their level. It’s a nice challenge for all of us. We have to take the competition game by game. The focus now is on the opening game (against Inter Kashi on Saturday). My dream is to see Fatorda cheering FC Goa in big numbers. These players deserve the support,” said Manolo. To be played on a single-leg home and away format with just 13 matches, this season’s ISL kicks off on Saturday with a clash between defending champions Mohun Bagan SG and Kerala Blasters FC. Goa take on I-League champions Inter Kashi later in the day at Fatorda.
