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Ready to bring trophy to Goa: Ferran Corominas

FC GOA’S TALISMANIC STRIKER VOWS TO WIN ISL TITLE FOR PEOPLE OF HIS ADOPTED HOME

Joel Andrade | MARCH 16, 2019, 01:37 AM IST

Ready to bring trophy to Goa: Ferran Corominas


JOEL ANDRADE

PANAJI

FC Goa have made the Indian Super League play-offs for the second consecutive season and once again leading the charge is their talismanic forward Ferran Corominas. Coro leads the Golden Boot chart in the league, and is in line to win the award again after he scooped the top honour last season.

The Gaurs could not make it to the finals in the last edition, but the Spanish sniper is determined to bring the trophy to Goa, his new adopted home. “Right now the atmosphere in the dressing room is great. We are very happy to have achieved our first goal of the season, that is to qualify for the play-offs,” Coro told The Goan on the sidelines of a meet-and-greet event organised for FC Goa players by Fomento Media in the city on Monday.

“The other day we had a chance to seal the top spot but we couldn’t make it and it’s totally okay. We have improved a lot since the beginning of the season, specially defensively. The play-off format is exciting and we will fight it out till the very end,” the Spaniard said. With Coro’s compatriot Sergio Lobera at the helm of the Goan franchise, the team has always believed in his attacking  philosophy and it has most often paid rich dividends. However, their defence had been a cause of a concern for some time now but Coro feels that with Carlos Pena coming in, the back-line has got plenty of stability -- their fivematch streak of not conceding a goal being the testament to the fact.

With their defence shored up, Coro believes his team can break the title jinx this season. “Our philosophy is to play attacking football. We always create a lot of chances but we concede often too. With Pena coming in the first eleven, it has given us plenty of stability in the back-line and I think it will help us to a great extent in the last stage of the season.”

Coro believes FC Goa have the physiological advantage in the semifinals and will look to take a clear advantage in the first 90 minutes. “The physiological factor will play a key role in the play-offs. We know that the semifinals will be decided over 180 minutes and we will look to earn a clear advantage in the first leg. Our play will remain the same -- focus on keeping the ball and creating more chances.”

While Coro has had a gala time on the field, he has enjoyed life off the field with his family and has visited plenty of tourist spots in the State and has enjoyed the Goan and Indian cuisine. “My family is very happy to live in Goa and are still visiting tourist places across the State. My wife and daughter are enjoying the conditions out here and for now, I have no plans to leave this beautiful State. I have tasted the Goan and Indian cuisine and my favourite snack is the Dosa. I like the rice-curry-fish too but whenever I order anything here, I make sure to tell them not to make it very spicy as my palate isn’t used to these Indian spices.”

Though Ferran is already 36 years old, he is still feeling physically good and thinks he can continue playing for a few more years. “Right now, I’m feeling very good and If I tell you now,I would say I can play for another 10 years. But I’m not getting any younger and If I stay injury-free, I’m sure I will be able to continue for a long time,” he said. The Spaniard though insisted his immediate goal is to bring home the ISL trophy to Goa this season, a prize he desperately yearns for in India.

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