Brison is now a real player, needs more minutes: Manolo

Panaji: Brison Fernandes has taken the field as a second-half substitute for FC Goa in the AFC Champions League Two games but the winger is certain to play an influential role for the club this season, feels coach Manolo Marquez.
For both continental games, the experienced Spanish coach chose to start with Udanta Singh on the right and, with six foreign players allowed, Dejan Drazic on the left. That meant Brison –one of Goa’s more talented players – was forced to look from the bench.
“I need to give more minutes for Brison because he's a player, like all, particularly the offensive ones, who needs confidence,” said Manolo. “He's very dangerous. I think if you look at it from the opponents’ point of view, when he has the ball, it looks like something will happen.”
Against Al Zawraa in the ACL2 group opener, Brison came on as a second-half substitute and had a mixed game. From among Goa’s 20 shots all through the game, only two were on target, one from Brison, though from a very difficult angle.
The winger also had a chance from inside the box but ended up shooting wide.
“I am sure that Brison will be a very good player in the next (few) years for FC Goa, I hope for India too. He has a lot of personality. He’s playing without a nail in his toe, problems with his ankle. I think Brison is now a real player, but he needs to play more minutes. He needs more minutes, and he will do it,” said Manolo.
In the opening game, Al Zawraa earned a hard-fought 2-0 win at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda last week. The entertaining encounter saw plenty of goalmouth action but in the end, strikes from Reziq Banihani and Nizar Alrashdan saw Al Zawraa take the points on the road.
Goa next face FC Istiklol away in Tajikistan on Oct 1, while Al Zawraa (Iraq) host group leaders Al-Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia).