ISL Preview Pune vs Goa: FC Pune City have edge against laggards FC Goa

PUNE: FC Pune City's Spanish coach Antonio Habas, who won the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League with Atletico de Kolkata, attributed the current status of his team to the set of players he has to work with.
Pune host wooden spooners FC Goa on Thursday but they themselves have fared no better this season and are just a rung above the visitors in the 8team standings.
"In ATK, the players were different from what I have here at FC Pune City.That's the only reason why Pune is down at the moment. I disagree with what has been said about my strategies not being suitable on Pune's smaller home ground," said Habas at the pre-match conference on Wednesday.
Against Goa they will have a slight edge since they won the first leg in Goa 1-0. Adding to that is the fact that Habas has a superior head-to-head record with Goa's Brazilian coach Zico in the ISL.
Habas has had four victories against Zico while the latter has yet to find a win against the Spaniard from the seven encounters till date.
Goa have been beset with problems from the start of this edition. Besides, poor finishing has let them down.
The former Brazilian striker said that anxiety amongst his players could be the reason. "I think the players are suffering from anxiety. There is pressure to score. When they reach the goal the pressure builds up as they are anxious to score," said Zico. In the last encounter Pune were held to a 1-1 draw against Delhi Dynamos in an away match while Goa lost to the same rivals at home.
Pune have just a win and three draws from six matches so far. "I remember last season Chennaiyin had a bad start losing a lot of games, and we are working because our marquee player came in the first week of October and the team is also 90 percent new but we are working," said Habas.