With an ISL Cup semi-final berth secured and history knocking at their door, FC Goa are ready to make their final statement in the ISL 2024-25 league stage. The Gaurs, having already clinched a second-place finish, now turn their focus to their last two league games against Mohammedan SC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

But make no mistake – this is far from a mere formality.

Despite their guaranteed spot in the last-four of the Cup playoffs, Goa’s mentality remains razor-sharp. As midfielder Rowllin Borges put it, “Yes, we have already achieved second position, but when we step inside the field, the only thing that matters is to win. It doesn’t matter as to who we play. We have to maintain this mentality in the upcoming matches and then think about the semi-finals.”

The numbers tell a tale of remarkable consistency – just one loss in their last 16 outings, a feat matched by few, even in the entire history of the ISL. And while Borges credited head coach Manolo Marquez’s tactical mastery for this incredible run, the Spaniard was quick to pass the praise onto the entire squad.

“I don’t agree with Rowllin here, because this is a job for everyone together in the team,” the tactician stated. “Like I’ve said a number of times this season, this is a fantastic group to work with and that is the reason.”

That unity has been the driving force behind a campaign that has steadily gathered momentum. While the start was less than ideal – just one win in the first six games – FC Goa have since roared back with performances that have reinforced their credentials as one of the top teams in the country. “It’s good, but I think we could have had a better start to the season,” Borges admitted. “After the first six games, we performed really well. If the start was better, that would have been really good for us.”

The resurgence coincided with the return of key players like Sandesh Jhingan and Iker Guarrotxena, further strengthening an already formidable squad.

“I knew, and everyone else also knew, that we had a good team,” Manolo Marquez explained. “And then, I also knew that when we recover some of our key players like Sandesh and Iker from their injuries, we will have a good season. Maybe I didn’t expect to reach the playoffs with four games remaining in the league, and to confirm the top-two finish with two games to go. But with the team that we have and the atmosphere in the dressing room, it is difficult to not play a good season.”

That dressing room atmosphere is something the players swear by. For Rowllin Borges, who has played in a double-winning Mumbai City FC squad, the camaraderie within the FC Goa camp surpasses even that. “The dressing room, I think, is far, far better than what I’ve had elsewhere. Everyone in the team enjoys each other’s company. The foreign players mix well with the Indians. Overall, the group is very good. And there is no doubt that we can be the ISL Cup winners.”

And as they approach the business end of the season, Marquez is keeping one eye on the bigger picture.

“It is very difficult. We spoke about this at training as well. We know that we will finish in second place, but still, every game is difficult. Everyone in this team are human beings, and you know that it’s not easy to be focused in the same way for every single game, maintaining the same mentality throughout the season. And now the team is already in second place, and I think that the main problem for tomorrow will be the mentality of the team when they enter the pitch,” he noted.

That challenge presents an opportunity for squad rotation, with players who haven’t featured much this season likely to get a chance to showcase their abilities. “Yes, the players who haven’t played much this season will get chances to perform tomorrow,” Marquez confirmed. “It is not only because they haven’t played much so far, but also because they deserve it. The team is currently second on the table because of these players. In my experience as a coach, if the rest of the squad do not push and involve themselves completely in the project, ultimately the season will be bad even if they have a top starting XI.”

For all the positivity surrounding the Men in Orange, the looming question remains – will a trophy define their season? Their 56-year-old head coach, ever the realist, knows the unpredictability of knockout football.

“People know me very well after five years now. And I keep saying that in knockout competitions like these, it gets very dangerous. I have no problems recognizing that I won the ISL Cup with Hyderabad FC. But in a competition like the ISL where a regular league format is already in place, a knockout round does not make sense. I understand, though, that Goa haven’t won the Cup yet and everyone here wants it a lot, and surely we will try and give our 200%.”

With their best league finish since their Shield-winning 2019-20 campaign already secured, FC Goa have laid the foundation for a historic ISL Cup playoff push. As they prepare for their final league games, the Gaurs remain relentless, eyes fixed firmly on their road ahead. The message is clear: the job is not done yet.