ISL 2022-23: We had the confidence that we could win: Odisha FC’s Josep Gombau

Odisha FC’s head coach Josep Gombau revealed his team was optimistic that they could win against the previous season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters FC. Odisha won by 2-1 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar on Sunday to register their second win of the season, which will definitely add a lot of confidence to the team.

The home team found themselves trailing at the halfway mark after Harmanjot Singh Khabra scored for the visitors in the 35th minute. However, Jerry Mawihmingthanga equalized for his team in the 54th minute. Subsequently, Spanish player Pedro Martin put the Kalinga Warriors in front as he scored in the 86th minute of the game to seal three points for the club.

Josep Gombau said in the post-match press conference, “We are so happy to get a win in our first home game (of the season) here at the Kalinga Stadium with a good result, which is something difficult in this league because all teams are quite good. Kerala Blasters FC are a very good side. We won this game and we are very happy.”

Commenting on the team’s mood at half-time when they were trailing by 1-0, Gombau said, “We were playing quite well and we conceded from a set-piece. We came into the changing room in the first half and we discussed a few things that we needed to do better. We had the confidence that we could bring back the result (in our favour) and win the game.”

Odisha had 53% of the possession and took a total of eight shots on target.

Sharing his views on the possession, Gombau said, “It was fairly equal. Both teams played a little bit differently. They are more direct than us and we expected them to press us a lot, because this is the way that they play. We worked a few attacking movements to try to beat them. In the first half, we didn’t work as much as we had prepared because they came and pressed higher up the pitch. They were in a mid block and it was difficult for us, but in the second half we needed to change the result and we started to have more of a wall. We created chances and we scored the two goals. In the first half, we had two-three chances, but we couldn’t convert them while they did it.”

Gombau also gave his gratitude to the fans, who have supported the team through thick and thin.

He concluded, “It’s very important to play at home. It gives you power when the fans are helping us and encouraging the team to play. Sometimes when you are exhausted and tired, the fans bring you this extra power that you need to make the last effort.”

Odisha FC will take on Bengaluru FC at the same venue on Thursday.