Hrithik Tiwari lauds Manolo Marquez, says Spaniard gives a lot of confidence to young players

FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari showered praise on head coach Manolo Marquez and said the gaffer has been giving the young players a lot of confidence. As long-term goalkeepers like Laxmikant Kattimani and Lara Sharma are out with injuries, Tiwari has been getting his chances.

Tiwari said he wants to make the most of his opportunity while playing for the Gaurs and grab his chances with both hands. The 23-year-old from Guwahati has made a total of 51 saves in 18 appearances of the ongoing ISL 2024-25 season and recorded seven clean sheets, playing a key role in helping the club finish the regular season in second place in the standings.

“It’s an incredible feeling, to be honest. It’s something I’ve worked towards for a long time, and now that I have this opportunity, I just want to make the most of it,” he told FieldVision.

“Being the first-choice goalkeeper for a club like FC Goa comes with a lot of responsibility, but I enjoy that pressure. Every game, every training session is a chance to continue to prove myself. To do that, I have to continue contributing to the team’s success, and I’m relishing the challenge,” he added.

On playing under Manolo Marquez’s tutelage, Tiwari said, “Manolo (Marquez) is an amazing coach. He’s very clear with his instructions and has a deep understanding of the game. What I admire most is how he gives confidence to young players. He doesn’t hesitate to trust us if we are performing well in training.”

“For me personally, his belief in my ability has been a huge motivation. He keeps things simple, and his tactical awareness helps us stay organized as a team,” he added.

When asked about their journey to the ISL playoffs and their chances of winning the ISL Cup for the first time, Tiwari answered, “Absolutely. We’ve worked really hard this season, and we believe in ourselves. It is going to be tough, but we’ve shown that we can compete with the best teams.”

“We just need to stay focused, take it one game at a time, and give everything on the pitch. Winning the ISL Cup would mean everything to us and the fans,” he concluded.