ISL: Odisha FC coach Gombau says game will have Spanish influence

It's the battle of the newcomers on Tuesday, October 22, as Jamshedpur FC gear up to play hosts to fresh faces, Odisha FC in the ISL. This will be Jamshedpur FC's third ISL season, while Odisha FC, formerly known as Delhi Dynamos, will play their maiden ISL game under their new banner. The Jharkhand-based side have gone through two managers in their previous two seasons in the ISL. This season, former Rayo Vallecano manager Antonio Iriondo takes charge of the side. 

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Antonio Iriondo's counterpart, Josep Gombau was appointed as the manager of Delhi Dynamos in 2018 and takes charge of the newly christened Odisha FC. Gombau, a Spaniard by nationality, has gone on to sign former ISL-winner Xisco Hernandez for the 2019-20 season of the ISL. Gombau also roped in former Barcelona B player Diawandou Diagne, along with centre-back Carlos Javier Delgado and Aridane Santana, who has arrived on loan from Spanish side Cultural Leonesa. His recent spate of Spanish signings means that there is a distinct Spanish flavour to Odisha FC in their debut season in the ISL. 

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Gombau: Looking to play possession-based football

Speaking in a pre-match press conference along with left-back Narayan Das and captain Marcos Tebar, who is, incidentally, also a Spaniard, Gombau stated that since Odisha FC have a total of five Spanish players in their squad this season, they will look to play a style of possession-based attacking football. He also went on to say that since Jamshedpur FC also have a number of Spanish players in their squad, the match is bound to be an exciting one.

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Odisha left-back Narayan Das, who began his footballing career at the TATA Football Academy in Jamshedpur, said that he is in good spirits, as the venue brings back happy memories for the former FC Goa fullback. He also went on to say that his team were in good spirits before their season opener against Jamshedpur FC. Das also revealed that there was a considerable amount of bonding in the team. One thing, however, is for certain. No one will be surprised to see a 'Viva La Roja' banner floating during the Jamshedpur FC vs Odisha FC game.

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