Players Believing In Our Style Of Play Is The Key, Says Manolo Márquez

Indian football team he coach Manolo Márquez on Tuesday said it is critical for his players to follow a synchronised approach while representing country, in order to start getting results in international arena.

Indian senior men's national team began its training camp ahe of friendly match against Malaysia on November 18 in Hyderab.

With Indian Super League going into a break with start of November FIFA international window, Blue Tigers checked into city on Monday and will have a total of six days of training sessions before match.

"We were supposed to play two games last month but due to external reasons, Lebanon couldn't come. For people, more games is better. But it's difficult to train day before and after match. We need to train tactically as well.

"I feel it's necessary to prepare for not just game against Malaysia but official matches which will come in March," Márquez said.

Márquez h a rough start to his coaching stint with national team as India were held 0-0 by Mauritius in September and beaten 0-3 by Syria in Intercontinental Cup, also in Hyderab.

His boys put up an improved showing, especially in second half, against Vietnam in a 1-1 draw last month in Nam Định.

Spaniard has continued trend of calling up new players in each FIFA window so far. This time, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Vibin Mohanan, Irfan Yw and Thoiba Singh Moirangm earned ir first national team call-ups. latter was a last-minute arrival after Anirudh Thapa suffered an injury during match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Odisha FC on Sunday.

Since taking charge in July, Márquez's priority has been to utilise friendly matches and training sessions to find best group of players for 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to start in March 2025.

"It's true that we want to check some new players. But obviously it's impossible to change whole group and call 40 players in March. It's true that we are finding group. It means that we have maybe 14, 15, 16 players who will be re, but we don't know exactly. And re are a lot of players who can get re," coach said.

"Obviously, it's still four months, and situation can change with a lot of things unfortunately with injuries and players' domestic form. But, I repeat again, as a coach you need to find group which can play style that we want.

"I am fully focussed on Malaysia match at moment. In a way, it's a dangerous game because players are in middle of fight for ISL and this is just one friendly game in November, and next camp will be in four months.

"But I am very confident in this group and I feel we will have a good performance next Monday," said Márquez.

Still awaiting his first win with India, Márquez remains patient. For now, key is to find groove with right bunch and get results where y matter most.

"Obviously everyone wants to win every game. But feeling we got after draw with Vietnam was completely different from what we got after drawing with Mauritius or losing to Syria.

"In some moments, we played superb. one key thing is that players have to believe in our style of play. I want to win every game and even every training session. Malaysia game is last friendly window before official games."