Coming against a solid win against Jamshedpur, how important is it to maintain momentum, especially with advantage of playing at home against Kerala Blasters?

It’s the same situation I told you before the game against Jamshedpur. This is in the past and we need to put the focus in the next game. We need to try to find the balance the stability in the team. One reason is not possible to change everything. We need to understand that we need to continue improving, we need to continue working for the next game if we want to get three points. We are happy obviously when we are winning, when we are getting points. It’s important for us for sure but the most important thing for me in the last game was I felt we were The Odisha again, we were loyal in our style of play and we played very well. The result is important but the way and how we can get the result is more important. For me as a coach I’m very proud of the players. The reaction to how to manage the game in different phases and now we need to put the focus in tomorrow’s game, forgetting the past because past is past and we know perfectly the potential of Kerala Blasters. Be it a difficult game but we are ready for the challenge. Hopefully we can be a strong at home and to go to the break with a victory.

Your attacking style of play went well in the last match. Are you planning any adjustments or tweaks to the forward line against Kerala or are we going with the same attack?

Let’s see, today we have the last training session. We have players to choose as a coach this is a good problem for me. They play well but every game is different. Every opponent is different and we need to go thinking about the next game not in the previous one.

Thoiba, You have been performing strongly in the defense. How has been the transition from Midfield to a defending role?

Yeah actually I play most of the matches in national team also as a Defender, as a right back but it’s not difficult for me to play as a center back. As a professional you have to adapt where you play or even if you play in the midfield or as a Defender just adapt quickly and play your style.

Kerala blasters have dangerous attackers and they are physically very strong. So playing at home what’s your approach to ensure that the defense remains intact?

Yeah I’m really confident because I have a backbones who are experienced players, good teammates and we don’t care who comes in front of us. We just give our best and do it well, just like that.

Last match we saw the fans in exceptional numbers with a loud voice. How do you expect them to be tomorrow?

Hopefully even in every game we have more people coming to the stadium. As I told you before in the press conference after the game I am very excited, very happy watching the environment of the stadium the people every time are coming in more numbers and hopefully tomorrow we can enjoy together before the break, getting a good result in front of our supporters.

Any messages for the women’s team who are travelling to Vietnam for the Women’s Asian Champions League?

Yes for sure. We are very proud of them. They did an amazing job. They are playing in the highest level competition and I wish them all the best because they deserve to enjoy this moment. This is the most important thing and also if it’s possible to get good results it would be amazing.

Thoiba, Playing under magnificent coach like Sergio Lobera has brought a lot of tactical insight to the team. How it has been helping you?

It’s helping me a lot you know he’s a great coach everyone knows and also as a person he’s a good person. I have learned a lot of things from him and he helps me on the pitch and off the pitch. It’s my responsibility to take that opportunity and I just keep working hard to grab my opportunity back.

Coach, are you satisfied with the improvements done by the team in the last match?

We need to grow as a team every day. We need to improve. I think during the last game we showed everyone that we learn from the mistakes which we did against a team like Chennai. Kerala blasters is a different team than Chennai and Jamshedpur. They have another style of play, another philosophy. Maybe they are playing similar style of football like us and it will be a good game. We need to correct the mistakes, but also we need to think about the opponent we have in front of us because it’s a different profile of the team. We need to continue improving. The most important thing is to be strong, being loyal in our style of play. In the last game I am very happy about this. We continued working in this way and we need to be ambitious and always we can improve.

How do you see Hugo Boumous your newly signed player along with Jahouh? How does that Combo work?

As I told a lot of times Boumous is one of the best players in ISL. But you need to be in the right balance with the team. Finally you want to shine as an individual. You need to work in a team, in a good team. Finally individually it is possible to shine, but if the team is working well I think it’s not about Boumous alone. It’s impossible to do something alone, I think the players working together as a team can help Boumous to shine more. And to get the best from Boumous, he’s an amazing player but we need to work as a team because if we are not working as a team then individually it is not possible to shine.

How do you rate Kerala Blasters?

Kerala Blasters is an amazing Club. It’s a club with a big fan base behind and they are living football every day. I think it is a strong team. It’s true in my past, practically till the last season, I got good results. But it’s not about the coach, it’s about the team. Tomorrow we are going to play against a very good team. I think they are a strong team now because they sign a very good professional and a very good person like Abhik. He is one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with and he joining the club is good. I want to congratulate them as they are going to be stronger for sure now. But in terms of tomorrow’s game I have a lot of respect to this team and I am sure and I know it will be a very good game.

Any news on Carlos’ injury? Will he be available for the game or the next game?

In a good way yes he’s doing well but for this game he is not going to be there. For next game maybe, that’s the target.

Thoiba, the team’s morale must be really high after that last victory. So what’s the atmosphere like in the squad right now?

Yeah now everyone is so motivated after winning the last game and everyone has trained well in the training session and I hope tomorrow’s game will be an exciting game for us.

Thoiba, last season, in the first match you got injured and you missed the whole season & last match you competed your 50th match for the club. How has the journey been for you?

Really nice. It’s been a great experience and I’ve been here, this is my fifth season in OFC and still a long way to go. There will be ups and downs but I just need to keep working hard and stay focused and stay humble and keep my feet on the ground.

Note: This is a transcript of the pre match press conference. Please watch the video of the press conference below: