PRE-MATCH QUIPS- Zico: We will do our best for the fans and the club; Materazzi: Will treat the match as any other match

EVEN A VICTORY TONIGHT can't move FC Goa off the bottom most spot. A strong contender ended up the bottom most side in this edition of the Indian Super League.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Zico talked about playing for pride and to treat the home fans. 

“Motivation for us is the respect for our fans, who will be coming here to watch the match and it is to honour our jersey as we are playing for FC Goa and we are professionals and it does not matter what position we are in. Whenever we go out on the pitch we go out to win. The players are very conscious about it and there is no doubt that they will fight for the victory,” 

Zico continued,

“My motivation is always the fans at the club and the professionalism, and it does not matter if I won or lost. I came here with a responsibility. I am a professional and I play for the fans and we will do our best for the fans and the club.”

The defending champions will bid a bitter goodbye to their travelling fans at the Fatorda stadium. Materazzi on the season where they failed to retain the title said,

“Yes, I’m happy because I have good memories of this place. But every game is different and we will try to keep the good memory of this place and try to win the game. We will play for fans and the club. Tomorrow is the chance to show what we can do and we will treat the match as any other match"

On the performance graph shown by Indian players Zico said,

“I think there has been some improvements for sure. The clubs now prepare better and sign a lot of young players and this year a lot of marquee players have made a difference, and we can see improvements comparing to the first year. You can see that all the teams that have made the top four, their marquee players have made the difference,” 

Materazzi's side has conceded 20 goals so far in the season. Speaking about the leaky defence, the Italian said,

“We just have to be focused and need a little bit of luck, someone shoots from the half pitch and gets the goal.”

The Chennaiyin FC Head Coach, sharing his view of this year's edition not seeing himself, Habas and Zico in the semi-finals said,

"We didn’t qualify for the semi-finals because we conceded some late goals like in the 86th minute in Mumbai, in the 96th minute in the last game and in the 83rd minute in Kolkata, this is regarding my team. Regarding Habas and Zico, it is not for me to comment. They are both good coaches, I respect them very much and it won’t be fair for me to say anything. Anyway, they help the ISL develop football in India.”
 

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