Panaji: Data is not really Dejan Drazic’s best ally. It shows in the FC Goa winger’s numbers this season: one goal and three assists in 16 appearances or about 950-odd minutes on the field.
For someone who was brought in as a replacement for Noah Sadaoui -- 11 goals and five assists for Goa last season – the numbers don’t really back Drazic. But ask anyone at Goa and they’ll passionately defend the Serbian winger. If needed, there will be some numbers too. Like being in the 90th percentile in dribbling in the Indian Super League (ISL); only Asmir Suljic has more successful dribbles per 90, winning the most amount of penalties for his team, joint fourth best in the league for assists, and if a data aggregator is to be believed, the top 10 rated players in the league on performance alone.
Whatever the ‘influential’ numbers might say, Goa know his worth. And Drazic knows he can do more.
“For sure I can do more and more,” Drazic told TOI during the pre-match media interaction on Monday. “It’s different here in India where there are (only) four foreigners on the field. In Cyprus, there were seven, so there’s a big difference in the type of football. Also, it’s not easy here in India, even though many said it would be easy. This is not an easy league. For sure I can give more (to the team).”
Previously linked to Kerala Blasters when Ivan Vukomanovic was at the helm, Drazic is the first Serbian at Goa.
When the club received his profile, there was excitement. Drazic’s versatility and ability to get past players was something the bosses appreciated, while his speed and dribbling, as evident from the multiple videos that they saw, helped push teams on the backfoot. Besides, Drazic excelled in the same league from where Goa had signed their biggest hero: Ferran Corominas.
Not everything has gone according to plan.
“Everybody (outside the country) feels it’s easy to play in India, but it’s not. In Cyprus, it was different. Maybe they play compact, make less mistakes. Here the players have talent. At Goa itself, there’s talent. Young players who train with us have talent for sure. All that they need is experience. The difference is not much (in terms of talent) but making mistakes in some situations. Small small things,” said Drazic.