Thangboi Singto speaks about preparations for the big game, Manolo’s absence and the need for youngsters to step up…

On a nine-day break…

The break was good for us because this season was unique. Like us, most of the teams are dealing with injuries and health issues so these breaks in fixtures are crucial. Apart from working on bringing the injured players to full fitness, what is also crucial in this period is to work on the physical side. To keep everyone mentally sharp is just as important and we have used this break to work on all these things. So yes, the team looks ready for tomorrow.

On Manolo Marquez’s absence…

He won’t be far away from us. Whatever we have been doing, we have been doing under his guidance and supervision, but we must play as best as we can. Of course, we are going to miss his experience, composure, and expertise in the dugout as the game goes on, but on the bench, the coaching staff will be giving our best and following the plan as closely as possible. Hopefully, we can bring back a good result for him to the team hotel.

On youngsters stepping up…

You can see, in the ISL, some of the youngsters have really done well. At Hyderabad FC, we have some very talented youngsters who are still waiting in the wings to make their mark. They are also important individuals to the team. Whoever plays tomorrow must give their best, and that’s all we ask from the players.

On Yasir’s strong start to the season…

He is a talented youngster, who last season, gave us glimpses of what he can do. There’s still room for improvement, but like I said in previous interviews, we are happy with his performance. We need to take it step-by-step. One of his strengths is to take on shots and that’s an advantage for us, but they need to hit the target, so we are also working on that. We are happy with him and hopefully, he can keep on improving.