Sabyasachi Bagchi: Fran Gonzalez has easily been the most impactful foreign recruit in Indian football at the moment. The Spaniard has not only scored nine goals to top the goalscorers’ chart, he transformed himself into a character whom the fans can rely on, eyes closed.
Fran spoke to www.xtratime.in in an exclusive interview where he revealed the answers of the questions which every Mohun Bagan fan wants to know. Here goes the conversation:
XT: 13 matches 32 points. What has been the chemistry behind the success?
Fran: There has been a simply chemistry behind this. Everyone is equal. There is no difference amongst us. All the players get equal importance here and that is why the bonding of the team is helping us to trouble every opposition.
XT: The majority of the fans think that Mohun Bagan has already become the champions. Your thoughts?
Fran: I don’t think we should celebrate now. I agree with our coach. We are focusing on our next game against Trau FC. We will keep playing our attacking brand of football.
XT: Everyone’s focus is on you now. Mohun Bagan missed the chance to win the title from similar situation back in 2016/17. Your message towards the fans and colleagues?
Fran: Heard that from Shilton. We are on the brink of creating a history. So, we are focusing on a steady progress from here on. We are asking the fans to do that as well. Please be patient.
XT: You are not the official captain of the side but you are indeed the leader of the team. Any message for the fans?
Fran: The leadership quality I learned from Sergio Ramos. He is my idol. I imbibed the tough football from him only. The Mariners too like my body language. Keep believing on us. We have come here to win the title for the fans.
XT: Churchill Brothers made fun out of you after their win over you at Kalyani. Any reply from you after the redemption?
Fran: I replied them immediately on Instagram after beating them at Goa on Saturday. It’s important to be polite in the game of football. They should remember that we lost the game not because they were the better team, but because we made multiple mistakes. So I hit them back on Instagram immediately after beating them at Goa.
XT: Despite being a defensive midfielder, you have already scored 9 goals in the league. What do you want to say about your performance?
Fran: This is nothing new. I played in multiple positions since my days with Real Madrid Junior. I train myself in multiple roles during the training as well. My job is to contribute to my team’s success and that is what I am doing. The Hero Of The Match awards don’t matter. What’s important is to develop myself as a better player everyday.
XT: You are presenting “team game” everyday. Do you think Beitia and Diawara are making the difference?
Fran: Diawara’s biodata speaks for him. A La Liga player will perform supremely here, that’s quite obvious. He has already scored 7 goals off 8 games! Talking about Beitia, he is a great player. He is like my younger brother. We both are from Spain but didn’t know each other before coming here. But we have a great understanding and friendship now. That’s helping the team.
XT: Coach Kibu Vicuna has been performing well. How is he as a human being, how is the dressing room?
Fran: Our coach has the majority of the contribution behind our success. He is good as a coach. But the human being Kibu Vicuna is even better. He handled a lot of critical situations with a calm head. He would be remembered for introducing pressing and passing football in India.
XT: After winter, now it will be the time for the summer. How tough will it be to perform?
Fran: All the teams will have to play in same conditions, not just us. At the early part of the season our performance was not upto the mark. We had to receive a lot of criticism. It’s unfortunate that no one is remembering the brand of football we have been playing and instead focusing on the hot and humid summer.
XT: What do you want to say about the next Kolkata derby?
Fran: We will treat that game just like another match. The entire focus is now on the Trau game. But we want to win that game as well. We made some errors in the second half of the last derby. We cannot repeat it.
XT: The National Team coach too has been impressed with the likes of Suhair, Naorem, Sahil and Subho Ghosh. Do you want to see them playing for India?
Fran: We have a lot of talent in the young players. But our coach too deserves credit for their show. Kibu has been giving them opportunities and that is why they are performing like this. They are young but they have the skill. They are clever too. Hope they are now on the notebook of Stimac.
XT: Last question, Mohun Bagan and ATK are merging in the next season. What’s your future?
Fran: I think this is not the right time to talk about it. The focus is now on winning the title. But will surely discuss it with the officials. I believe they too will revert my performance. But at the end of the day, I am a professional and I need to think about my family as well.