Habas, Zico lock horns in battle of lasts

With FC Pune City and FC Goa reeling at the bottom of the table on the 7th and 8th spot respectively, coach Antonio Habas and coach Zico will be battling against their rough campaign to breathe out in a Hero Indian Super League clash at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Balewadi-Pune, on Thursday.

Habas and Zico are both experiencing rough weather in the ISL for the first time but it will be Habas who will feel more confident going into the battle of the bottom-rankers.  In the seven encounters between the two coaches, Habas has put it across Zico on four occasions, and the legendary Brazilian coach has failed to win a single game. 

FC Pune City are placed seventh on the table with six points from six matches. Their wretched form at home has seen them pick up just two points from a possible 12 and they are yet to win at home. Fortunately for Pune, they have never lost against FC Goa at home (won 1, draw 1) and would look to keep the record intact, preferably with a win. 

“I remember last season Chennaiyin had a bad start losing a lot of games and we are still a work in progress because our marquee player came in the first week of October and the team is also 90 percent new,” said Habas. 

FC Goa too have had their worst start to an ISL campaign as Zico’s side find themselves at the bottom of the pool table with four points from seven matches.  “Our situation is complicated, difficult. We need to win at least five games from seven matches” said Zico. 

Much of Goa’s problems have been their profligate finishing rather than their ability to create chances.