Manolo Marquez, who arrived late on Saturday night, expressed his excitement and fulfillment at being appointed as the head coach of the Blue Tigers. On Sunday, he engaged in a detailed discussion with both the Executive Committee and Technical Committee members of the AIFF.
“For a long time, I was thinking that maybe one day I would like to coach the national team and I'm here now. I am very happy, and it is a dream for me to be the national team coach of India,” Marquez shared with reporters.
Marquez first came to India before the 2020-21 Indian Super League season to lead Hyderabad FC. His strong rapport with Indian players is well-known, giving him a solid foundation as he starts his new role with the national team.
Following India’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after their defeat in Qatar in June, Marquez’s initial focus will be on the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. These will commence in March 2025, featuring 24 teams split into six groups of four. The winners of these groups will advance to the final tournament in Saudi Arabia.
The draw for the qualifiers will be held in December, and maintaining a position in Pot 1 will be crucial for a favorable draw. Marquez will have friendly matches during the FIFA International Match Windows in September, October, and November to prepare his team. The campaign kicks off with the Intercontinental Cup in September, where India will face Mauritius and Syria in Hyderabad, followed by matches against Lebanon and Vietnam in the Tri-Nation tournament in October.
“The target now is obviously to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup if we speak about competitions. The target is also to improve the level of the Indian players in this case, to reach the next step individually and as a team. We need to improve. I don't like to speak about the ranking because sometimes statistics don’t show the true picture. Everyone knows that progress takes time, but in this case, it depends on the attitude of everyone. Players, federation, staff, coaches. We all need to go in the same direction and then I am completely sure that we will get good results,” Marquez concluded.
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