Soumo Ghosh

AIFF Media Team

HYDERABAD: Four training sessions and one match into his role as the head coach of the India senior men’s national team, Manolo Márquez celebrates his 56th birthday on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in a rather quaint fashion that mainly includes the regular proceedings that go on in the Blue Tigers’ camp.

“I don’t think much about my birthday,” Márquez waves off suggestions of celebrations. It’s just a normal day for me. I guess there will be a cake at night after training.

“Maybe they will be brave enough to put the cake on my face, but that’s all,” he said with a chuckle.

The Spaniard who arrived in India four years ago, has swiftly but quietly established himself as one of the foremost coaches in the country, a fact that he is proud of.

“Well, I am 56 now, and life is happening quickly. But I am satisfied and proud to be here in India. First, Hyderabad (FC), then FC Goa, and now with the national team. I really can’t complain about how things have gone for me here in India so far,” said Márquez.

Márquez’s stint began with a stalemate against Mauritius, and the India head coach was the first to accept that the team need to improve in several areas on the pitch. However, the reaction he has got from his players gives him hope.

“I am quite satisfied with the attitude with which the guys have been working. What’s most important at this stage is to understand where we are at this moment,” he said. “It’s not like we will train one week and then see where we stand. We understand it will take time to make things happen. Even at clubs, you need more than a regular pre-season to adapt to the style that we as a staff want to implement.”

After the goalless draw against Mauritius in the Intercontinental Cup in Hyderabad, India find themselves in a situation where they have to defeat Syria (who beat Mauritius 2-0) on September 9 to win the tournament. However, victories are easier to speak about than be earned.

“It will be a difficult game against Syria, but I do not want to give any excuses. I want to speak about reality. They have 10 players who play in Europe or South America, and of course, such opponents will be stronger,” said Márquez. “That’s one of the main reasons why we need to adapt as soon as possible to a clear style to be a competitive team.

“This does not mean we cannot win, but finding the correct combination and style becomes all the more important for us in such scenarios,” he said.

The India head coach pointed out that India need to adapt to playing against opponents at different levels, in order to produce consistent results.

“We are in a situation where we might sometimes play against a team that is better than us, or sometimes teams that are at a lower level. That is why I stress on a certain style of play, which will help us adapt to such situations at quick intervals,” said Márquez.

While the Blue Tigers look to settle into their new style of play, the India head coach is busy looking at all the possible combinations that could work for him on the pitch.

“For sure we will be trying out different players, different combinations in these matches. At this stage, we need to find the correct group of players who can adapt to this style that we want to implement,” said Márquez.

Behind the scenes, Márquez’s assistants are hard at work with the players getting them ready for the challenges ahead. Assistant coaches Benito Montalvo and Mahesh Gawali, goalkeeping coach Marc Gamon, and strength and conditioning coach Jose Carlos Barroso work with the players on the training ground, in the gym, and in the tactical rooms to get the whole team on the same page.

“We’ve worked together for a long time, Benito, Marc and Jose, and Mahesh is also an exceptional coach. All of us are working together in the same direction,” said Márquez. “We are all aware of our strengths and weaknesses, and are building this team accordingly.”