‘It’s going to be a tough game!’ - coach Manolo Marquez reflects before crucial India vs Syria, Intercontinental Cup 2024 match

Add as a preferred source on Google

In the most crucial game of the Intercontinental Cup 2024 match, India will face their toughest opponents Syria. Addressing the media in the pre-match press conference, coach Manolo Marquez reflected that 'confident' would not be the right word, it would certainly be a 'tough game' and India wants to play a good game.

India need an absolute win in this game but the coach explained, "Of course, we want to win the game and the tournament," but he doesn't want to do it by a mere 1-0 goal won or such, he mostly wants a good game from the team. At this point, the team needs to understand the new ideas and play better.

India's performance against Mauritius in their first Intercontinental Cup 2024 game was not convincing enough. They created some good chances which should have been converted at the right time, especially one in the early minutes which could have given the Blue Tigers the much-needed lead. Such moments came a few more times later in the game as well.

Credit where it's due! Mauritius were good at the back. However, India failing to do better in the final third was quite visible. When MyKhel asked the coach about his views and plans on remedying the problems, he said, "We played more or less with order."

"But the thing that we need is correct positioning on the pitch and to arrive with more players in the box, and on some moments, shoot from outside the box, to be more clinical in the last section, a lot of things. It's true that we are still in pre-season."

"Most of the players in Syria are already playing in different championships, But finally, it's about us and again, we need to work hard. They are training very good. This is the reality. And we are expecting a good deal. We need to be positive," he added.