ISL 2022-23: Our minimum target is to reach the knockout stage – Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau

Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau has opined that their minimum target is to reach the knockout stage in the upcoming season of the Hero Indian Super League 2022-23. Odisha FC has been the busiest team during the off-season as they have added a lot of players to their squad for the next season.

Meanwhile, Odisha FC had finished at seventh position in Hero ISL 2021-22 standings with six wins and a total of 23 points in their 20 league stage matches. Thus, they failed to qualify for the semifinal stages and Gombau will be determined to turn the tables in the next season as he will look to get the best out of his players.

This will be Josep Gombau’s second spell with the Juggernauts and he will aim to deliver the goods for the club. Odisha FC had performed well under the tutelage of Josep Gombau during his first stint with the team.

“The Indian Super League is growing and everyday it’s becoming more competitive. Our minimum target is to be in the playoffs. That’s our objective and I am confident that we can make it work. I know it’s not easy. We did it last time, so why can’t we do it now? We have more time to prepare and all of us are working hard,” Gombau told The Times of India in an interview.

Meanwhile, Gombau was the team’s head coach for the 2019-20 season of the Hero ISL. In that season, Odisha FC finished at sixth place in the standings with seven wins in 18 matches. Gombau is happy with the team that they have built as they have the right balance.

“I am happy with the team that we have, it has balance. We have a very young pool of (domestic) players. I feel comfortable working with youth because they have this hunger. It’s amazing to work with them. We need some experience. At least one or two Indian players that are more experienced and are at an age where they can take responsibilities and other players can follow them,” said Gombau.

The Juggernauts have added Indian players like Raynier Fernandes (Mumbai City), Michael Soosairaj (ATK Mohun Bagan), and Narender Gahlot (Jamshedpur). Moreover, they have signed overseas players such as Carlos Delgado and Osama Malik ahead of the upcoming edition.

“We are bringing in a new set of foreign players. Not for anything, it’s just the structure of the way we want to build this team. We want to bring in a number six who was not there last year. We don’t want any wingers since in Indian players we have good wingers. We need two strikers and a number 10.

“The composition of the team, the way we play, will be different, so we wanted new kind of players. Javi would have been a fit, but he has already signed (for Bengaluru FC). We are not retaining anyone (from last season). They did quite well, but this is a new project,” said the 46-years-old head coach.