Margao: Glan Martins hasn’t had the best of starts to this season.
The India midfielder started the first two games for FC Goa but was substituted with young Ayush Chhetri just after the hour mark.
Chhetri took Glan’s starting spot against Hyderabad and then against Jamshedpur FC at home on Thursday, but Glan proved his worth to this team with a fine performance against Jamshedpur, not as a midfielder, but in a central defender’s role.
When Syrian defender Fares Arnaout was injured in the tenth minute itself, Pena looked at his bench and didn’t find a straightforward replacement. Marc Valiente, a regular starter, was injured, while another foreign player – Alvaro Vazquez – was in the stands too.
Aibanbha Dohling was already on the field at left back.
There was Leander D’Cunha and Saviour Gama, both wing backs, available on the bench, but Pena took everyone by surprise when he chose Glan to substitute Fares.
He did not disappoint.
Playing alongside Anwar Ali, another impressive performer, Glan was comfortable in his new role and fended off the strong challenge from Jamshedpur’s strike-force consisting of Daniel Chima and Harry Sawyer. Even when Jay Thomas took the field for Jamshedpur in the 55th minute, the Goa defence, helped by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, stood its ground.
“I am very happy with the team’s performance,” Pena told reporters after the 3-0 win at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday. “Every game has different characteristics, and the team has to adapt to the situation. I am glad we gave a good performance. I brought Glan because of his qualities with the ball at his feet and his strength. He performed great after coming in and helped the team to victory.”
Playing at home for the first time this season, Goa had 64 percent ball possession and made almost 500 successful passes. Edu Bedia, in particular, seemed in fine form, controlling the tempo of the match with ease.
Pena said he was happy with the style of play but said possession that doesn’t help the team makes no sense.
“For me, if possession is helping the team, then only I want it, not for the sake of it. We were able to draw the opposition out of the compact zones. We created space behind the defence, and we took great advantage with the help of our wingers and converted the chances, which paved the way to our victory,” said Pena, who also altered the team structure to enable Noah Sadaoui play on the left wing, Iker Guarrotxena upfront and captain Brandon Fernandes behind him.
The India midfielder started the first two games for FC Goa but was substituted with young Ayush Chhetri just after the hour mark.
Chhetri took Glan’s starting spot against Hyderabad and then against Jamshedpur FC at home on Thursday, but Glan proved his worth to this team with a fine performance against Jamshedpur, not as a midfielder, but in a central defender’s role.
When Syrian defender Fares Arnaout was injured in the tenth minute itself, Pena looked at his bench and didn’t find a straightforward replacement. Marc Valiente, a regular starter, was injured, while another foreign player – Alvaro Vazquez – was in the stands too.
Aibanbha Dohling was already on the field at left back.
There was Leander D’Cunha and Saviour Gama, both wing backs, available on the bench, but Pena took everyone by surprise when he chose Glan to substitute Fares.
He did not disappoint.
Playing alongside Anwar Ali, another impressive performer, Glan was comfortable in his new role and fended off the strong challenge from Jamshedpur’s strike-force consisting of Daniel Chima and Harry Sawyer. Even when Jay Thomas took the field for Jamshedpur in the 55th minute, the Goa defence, helped by goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, stood its ground.
“I am very happy with the team’s performance,” Pena told reporters after the 3-0 win at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday. “Every game has different characteristics, and the team has to adapt to the situation. I am glad we gave a good performance. I brought Glan because of his qualities with the ball at his feet and his strength. He performed great after coming in and helped the team to victory.”
Playing at home for the first time this season, Goa had 64 percent ball possession and made almost 500 successful passes. Edu Bedia, in particular, seemed in fine form, controlling the tempo of the match with ease.
Pena said he was happy with the style of play but said possession that doesn’t help the team makes no sense.
“For me, if possession is helping the team, then only I want it, not for the sake of it. We were able to draw the opposition out of the compact zones. We created space behind the defence, and we took great advantage with the help of our wingers and converted the chances, which paved the way to our victory,” said Pena, who also altered the team structure to enable Noah Sadaoui play on the left wing, Iker Guarrotxena upfront and captain Brandon Fernandes behind him.
