Ahead of a crunch clash against the Blasters, Manolo Marquez spoke about needing a result, the mood in the camp, and more…

On needing a win against Kerala…

We are now in the last three games and three teams (NEUFC and FCG along with HFC) are fighting for the 3^rd and the 4^th spot in the league table. And yes, we need to win this game against Kerala if we want to reach the top-4 after the end of the remaining games.

On how to motivate the players…

The players are all already motivated. Sometimes people say you need to enjoy the situation you are in but right now, that is not easy. We have had a really good season so far but it is practically impossible to not be nervous at this time. Not just us, this is how every team in every league feels when there are just these many games left.

Everyone in the team knows that we need to work hard. We know that we have a tough set of fixtures remaining. But my team will fight till the very end.

A thought about the mood in the camp…

I am really happy and confident about my players this season. In most games, we were the better team. We deserved to lose a couple but it is how it is. We have to play against Kerala now and win this game and that is all we are currently thinking about.

A word on…

Rohit Danu

The boy is improving step by step and I think the next season will be his most important. He has a lot of talent and I prefer to give him minutes because I believe that he will be one of the best attacking players in the country soon. But he still needs to learn and improve many areas of his game.

Aridane Santana…

Last week I was asked how Aridane can come out of a dip in form. Now, after one goal, it is ‘Aridane is the top goalscorer for Hyderabad FC’. These things are normal in football. I think Aridane is a very good centre-forward and an important part of the team, on and off the field. He is a fantastic player and a great person as well.

He scored nine goals last season and is reaching similar levels this season as well. It is not easy to repeat such numbers but what is more impressive is that he has done it, even after changing clubs.

Chinglensana Singh…

For me, Sana is technically one of the best, if not the best defenders in India at the moment. He is a calm player and is not afraid to ask for the ball, even under pressure. Sana and Odei (Onaindia) form the best defensive pairing in the league and have been crucial for our performances so far this season.