PRE-MATCH QUIPS: Habas says the time to win has arrived; Zico expects his team to go all out

FC PUNE CITY ARE THE ONLY TEAM that are yet to complete their first set of league fixtures. A victory by a difference of two goals tonight will get them to the sixth position in the league points table. FC Goa who are the only team whom FC Pune City have got a victory against this season, will look to this fixture as payback time as they struggle to get out of the bottom most position.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game on Wednesday, Coach Habas said,

“We are working with the team. We are building a strong team. We need time but the time is over and we need to start to win as soon as possible"

Habas continued,

“I hope things will change. We need everyone, including the players and me for it to change. The situation, as it stands, is bad. But I think tomorrow is a good opportunity to change that. We will keep working towards that result.”

Zico has time and again stressed that his squad had the least time to get assembled but said that his side, despite the poor results, are fighting to give their best. Zico told reporters on Wednesday,

“First of all, I think we started building our team a bit late, almost at the deadline, after the other teams. Most of our players weren't physically well. But despite everything, we aren't being dominated. The results aren't coming but we are fighting and doing our best”

The Brazilian continued: “We have taken time to adapt. You can see we are trying our best. But the results aren't coming for us. Some referee decisions have gone against us and that has caused us to be at the bottom of the table. But we are here, we are fighting. Let's go!

“But it is time that our players put their head down and showed even more dedication. We owe it to the colours that we wear and the people that are rooting for us. We have to come to this second phase with everything that we have and try and change our situation.” said the FC Goa Coach.

To a question about why his team are lacking in the goal scoring front, Habas replied,

“The magic word in football is balance, that is balance between attack and defence. Now maybe sometimes we are good in defence but not in attack and sometimes vice versa. Balance is important. You can now see we are getting close to that balance and we need to score more. That's all.”

Antonio Habas was in charge of ATK for two Indian Super League seasons before coming to Pune this year. To a question if the pitch in Balewadi, which is smaller, is the cause of not being able to take advantage of to score goals said,

“The players here are different from ATK's players from last season. It is not about the ground dimension. It's about the team. And that is what I have to focus on”

Zico, whose team has scored only four goals so far in seven games, was quizzed about the trouble facing the strike force said,

"I think our players are suffering from anxiety. I think they are under pressure to score and get the results for us. They have been reckless and at times impatient in front of goal. But the goal-keeping standards are high too. It's a little bit of both. Who knows now in the second phase all the balls end up going in."

Another figure that might give Pune an upper hand going into the game is the fact Goa have never beaten Habas's team in the ISL. Last year, Goa have lost twice to Habas' ATK and drawn twice and in the current season were again beaten by 2-1. But Zico said the past does not matter to him and went on to say,

“We never think of the past. I think we need to start playing again. We need to get on the pitch and play like before and get the results. We can turn this around if we do that"

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