ISL 2019 | Bengaluru and Goa don’t have same style of football, says Sergio Lobera

Since Lobera’s introduction to ISL last season, Goa and Bengaluru have been the most prolific sides in the league, and the fact that BFC manager Carles Cuadrat has also hailed from the same school in Barcelona has led many to familiarize both the coach’s style of play. However, Lobera has refuted the popular opinion stating that his focus on possession is what separates him from his compatriot.

When asked Lobera about the psychological state of his players before the final, he stated, “Whatever has happened in the past, stays in the past. A final will be a completely different game. Tomorrow the team that will win the trophy will be the team that is the best on the pitch. Bengaluru won both games in the league stages. But we come here with the intention of winning the final. We learnt from our mistakes."

The last time Goa had reached the final was back in 2015 when they had faced Chennaiyin FC, and it was a frustrating evening for the Gaurs. After cancelling Bruno Pelissari’s opener through Thingkosiem Haokip and then leading by Jofre Mateu’s goal at the 87th minute, CFC had pulled off the impossible. They had got the equalizer through Laxmikant Kattimani’s own goal in the 90th minute before Stiven Mendoza eventually got the winner one minute later.

Mandar Rao Desai, who has captained the Goa side this season and was one of the players that evening, said, "I still remember that day. We were leading till the 80th minute and then we went down 3-2 to Chennaiyin FC. We just have to be focused throughout the game and I think we can do it. This team tries to keep a lot of ball possession and attacks at the right moment. The previous team was a little more direct."