The Manolo Márquez era in Indian football is set to begin, marking a new chapter for the national team as they take on Mauritius in the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. Interestingly, this is the very city where Márquez began his Indian football journey almost five years ago.
Márquez, addressing the media ahead of the match, expressed his excitement about the upcoming challenge. “It’s special to play the first game here in Hyderabad. It feels like a new stadium now with the new facilities here,” he said. Defender Roshan Singh Naorem joined the coach at the pre-match press conference.
The Indian team has had limited preparation time, with only two training sessions ahead of the clash against Mauritius. However, Márquez is optimistic, focusing on the positive attitude of the players. “We can’t control the fixtures, and it’s not about making excuses. We’re ready for tomorrow,” he stated.
While the immediate focus is on the Intercontinental Cup, Márquez emphasized that these matches serve as a preparation for the more significant challenges ahead, particularly the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers scheduled for March 2025. “The main target of playing these games in September, October, and November is to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers,” he noted.
Márquez acknowledged the challenges of working with players from different teams, each with its unique style of play. However, he remains confident that the team will put on a good show, regardless of the results. “Whatever result we get, it won’t be the real situation of the national team,” he added.
Mauritius, India’s opponents, are also in a similar preparatory phase as they gear up for their upcoming competitive matches, including the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Head coach Guillaume Moullec, who took charge of the team in May, emphasized the importance of stability and efficiency as they continue to build their squad.
“We’re still in a preparation phase for official matches, and the important thing for us is to find stability and start being more efficient,” Moullec said. He further mentioned that his team’s focus will remain on their own development rather than adapting to India’s style of play.
Mauritius will face Syria on September 6, followed by India’s match against Syria on September 9. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned the champions of the Intercontinental Cup 2024.