ISL: Igor Angulo — FC Goa’s ‘Mentality Monster’ to replace Ferran Corominas

One 30-minute odd chat session with him and it was quite evident why FC Goa have roped in a 36-year-old striker as a replacement for their all-time goalscorer Ferran Corominas ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season.

Igor Angulo is a mentality monster. Almost 18 years in professional football has turned him into one. That’s why he can casually, while showing utmost respect, dismiss any suggestions of Goa fans missing Corominas in the attack.

“We will not miss him (Corominas),” Angulo says in a video interaction with a group of reporters. “Corominas is a legend at the club but if he scored so many goals, it is because of the team,” he continues. “So both the team and Corominas have to be great for each other. Corominas was a good part of Goa but now we have to look at the future as he's not going to be with us.”

Goa fans might be wondering where this confidence comes from. After all, Coro had the ability to score goals for fun, that’s why he netted 48 times in 57 games. How do you match up to those numbers? Angulo, on his part, is not worrying too much about it.

Two-time golden boot winner Ferran Corominas (Source: ISL)

"I know that I am going to replace Coro because he has scored so many goals for the club, but I'm used to having this kind of pressure. In the last four years, I had the pressure to be the best for the team. I think in Goa it's going to be the same,” he says before going on to add, “But in the end, football is a collective sport and we will need the help of everyone. One player cannot do anything by himself. Only a good squad can do it and I think we will have it.”

It’s popular knowledge that Angulo has the knack of finding the back of the net time again. It’s a quality he has developed and polished over time. That he was one of the highest scoring players in Poland over the last 4 years, scoring almost 100 goals, should be a testament for that.

You expect goals from such a guy. You know he will make opposition defenders lives hell, he will challenge them constantly, vye for the ball and also, be there when it matters to do the most important thing in football — score. But the thing is, goals are not the only thing that you should expect for him. Because, as Angulo himself promises, he wants to contribute on every aspect he can.

“I spoke with the coach (Juan Ferrando) and the club management, and they want me to be one of the most important players in their team,” he concedes.

https://twitter.com/FCGoaOfficial/status/1285826136585330688

“I'm going to be one of the oldest players in the team, if not the oldest. Apart from giving it all on the pitch, I hope to contribute off the pitch by guiding talented Indian youngsters. I have faced tough situations in my career, and I want to bring them all into play,” he says.

But being one of the oldest in a team, isn’t that supposed to be a bad thing, especially for a striker? Angulo doesn’t think so.

“Yes, I am 36, but I think I am in the best phase of my career. If you see the numbers also, you will see I have scored almost 100 goals in my last 3-4 seasons, so there was no point of relaxing,” he retaliates.

“I wanted to take this challenge of playing outside Europe for the first time. I thought the best thing to keep myself motivated and give my best on the pitch even at this stage was to move to a new club. I was comfortable in Poland, the fans loved me, I was playing good football. But, you know what? When you become too comfortable, you tend to relax and I simply did not want to relax,” Angulo signs off.

If you are still wondering, it’s all about that mentality. The Spanish marksman has developed himself into a mentality monster and opposition defenders better be ready for him.

Also read: FC Goa rope in Spanish forward Igor Angulo