ISL feature: Pena era begins with mixed emotions for Goa

Good
start

With
FC
Goa
starting
their
first
three
games
away
from
home
comforts,
Fernandes
is
also
excited
about
returning
to
Fatorda
and
playing
in
front
of
the
Gaurs’ faithful.

“Now,
we’ve
to
build
on
this
good
start.
Everybody
is
working
to
the
best
of
their
abilities,
to
get
better
and
stronger
with
each
day,”
Fernandes
dwelled
further.

Crucial
points

The
other
star
of
the
night
—
Bedia
—
was
also
quite
ecstatic
with
the
result
with
his
11th
goal
in
the
ISL
helping
the
club
gain
three
crucial
points
to
start
the
campaign.

“The
goal,
just
like
the
one
in
the
Durand
Cup
final,
gave
us
an
important
win
as
well,
and
ultimately
that’s
what
matters
the
most,” the
Spaniard
stated
following
the
game.

Pena
lauds
team
character

Goa’s
win
in
the
season
opener
also
meant
a
winning
start
to
Pena’s
tenure
as
the
club’s
head
coach.
The
former
Goa
stalwart,
though,
kept
the
praises
reserved
for
his
players.

“My
boys
deserve
the
win.
They
had
a
lot
of
faith
till
the
last
moment.
They
tried
to
attack
and
create
half
chances
till
the
last
moment,”
the
gaffer
said.

Further
insights

Pena
gave
further
insights
about
the
game,
“In
the
first
half,
we
started
with
a
great
personality.
We
tried
to
control
the
game
with
the
ball,
by
playing
in
the
opposition
half
and
creating
chances.

“We
suffered
a
bit
in
the
second
period,
lost
some
balls
and
East
Bengal
started
creating
problems.
But
during
the
closing
stages,
we
started
passing
forward
and
were
playing
in
their
half,'”
he
added.

Goa’s
next
match
is
against
two-time
ISL
champions
Chennaiyin
FC
at
the
Jawaharlal
Nehru
Stadium
in
Chennai
on
October
24.