Marcelinho: It’s a game where we can’t make mistakes
FC Pune City travel to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday to face Bengaluru FC in the second leg of the first semi-final in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18. The Stallions drew the first leg 0-0 in Pune and will be satisfied that they managed to keep a clean sheet at home. With the new away-goal rule in place this season, the one man who can give Pune the edge in scoring crucial away goals is their club captain Marcelinho. The Brazilian spoke to indiansuperleague.com before the game and here are the excerpts.
Your thoughts on leading Pune into their first semi-finals?
I feel very good. That was my job before I came here, when they picked me to come to this club. It was my responsibility to lead the team and I think, I did something well. We made a good group. Also, a good job from the coach and I’m feeling good. I’m feeling happy that we’re in the semi-finals. We can reach the final and also can be the champions. Let’s see!
Have Pune taken a different approach for the semi-finals?
No. I think our expectation was to reach the top four, so we’re happy with our job. We’re happy that we’re playing nice football. And let’s see, we might be the champions.
Will there be pressure when you face Bengaluru?
It’ll be a normal game for me. We have faced strong defences like Kerala Blasters FC and FC Goa, so for me, it’ll be a normal game.
What is the game plan against Bengaluru?
They’re a very good team and they have a very good coach. They’ve played together for a couple of years, maybe more. But we’re also good and have experienced players like them. It’s a game where you can’t make mistakes, so there’s no game plan. We’ll try not to make easy mistakes and everything will be well.
FC Pune City face Bengaluru FC in the return leg of the first semi-final of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. With the first leg ending in a goalless draw, the Stallions will be looking to take advantage of the new away-goal rule while visiting the Blues. Austrian midfielder MarkoStankovic, who signed for Pune in January, spoke to indiansuperleague.com on the eve of the game. Here are the excerpts.
Your thoughts on Sunday’s fixture?
Yes, everybody is looking forward to this game. The pressure is on Bengaluru 100%. We had a good result at our home game and now we have to do the same performance. If we do that, I am convinced that we will go through to the final.
What positives have you taken from the first leg?
I think we had a lot of positives to take from the game. The defence did very well and not just the defence, but the whole team did really well in the attack as well. It was our first target not to concede any goal. The only thing we didn’t do was score a goal, but we are always able to score and in the away games this season, we have been very hard to beat. So, I can just repeat that the pressure is on Bengaluru and not on us.
Where do you think the game will be won?
I think it will be just out of patience, which team will be more patient because it’s a different game than in the championship. Everybody knew what matters when you score an away goal, what matters if you don’t concede a goal, so these are two different games. I think the team with the better mentality and attitude on the day will win this game and I hope that it will be us.
How do you plan to take the momentum ahead?
Just focus on the game. In the important games, it’s easier to focus, it’s easier to concentrate and you know what you have to do on the pitch. I play this position and I love this position. And if I’m focused the whole day, I’m convinced that I will give the same performance like the first game.
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Marcelinho: It’s a game where we can’t make mistakes
FC Pune City travel to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday to face Bengaluru FC in the second leg of the first semi-final in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18. The Stallions drew the first leg 0-0 in Pune and will be satisfied that they managed to keep a clean sheet at home. With the new away-goal rule in place this season, the one man who can give Pune the edge in scoring crucial away goals is their club captain Marcelinho. The Brazilian spoke to indiansuperleague.com before the game and here are the excerpts.
Your thoughts on leading Pune into their first semi-finals?I feel very good. That was my job before I came here, when they picked me to come to this club. It was my responsibility to lead the team and I think, I did something well. We made a good group. Also, a good job from the coach and I’m feeling good. I’m feeling happy that we’re in the semi-finals. We can reach the final and also can be the champions. Let’s see!
Have Pune taken a different approach for the semi-finals?
No. I think our expectation was to reach the top four, so we’re happy with our job. We’re happy that we’re playing nice football. And let’s see, we might be the champions.
Will there be pressure when you face Bengaluru?
It’ll be a normal game for me. We have faced strong defences like Kerala Blasters FC and FC Goa, so for me, it’ll be a normal game.
What is the game plan against Bengaluru?
They’re a very good team and they have a very good coach. They’ve played together for a couple of years, maybe more. But we’re also good and have experienced players like them. It’s a game where you can’t make mistakes, so there’s no game plan. We’ll try not to make easy mistakes and everything will be well.
Marko Stankovic: Pressure will be on Bengaluru
FC Pune City face Bengaluru FC in the return leg of the first semi-final of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. With the first leg ending in a goalless draw, the Stallions will be looking to take advantage of the new away-goal rule while visiting the Blues. Austrian midfielder Marko Stankovic, who signed for Pune in January, spoke to indiansuperleague.com on the eve of the game. Here are the excerpts.
Your thoughts on Sunday’s fixture?Yes, everybody is looking forward to this game. The pressure is on Bengaluru 100%. We had a good result at our home game and now we have to do the same performance. If we do that, I am convinced that we will go through to the final.
What positives have you taken from the first leg?
I think we had a lot of positives to take from the game. The defence did very well and not just the defence, but the whole team did really well in the attack as well. It was our first target not to concede any goal. The only thing we didn’t do was score a goal, but we are always able to score and in the away games this season, we have been very hard to beat. So, I can just repeat that the pressure is on Bengaluru and not on us.
Where do you think the game will be won?
I think it will be just out of patience, which team will be more patient because it’s a different game than in the championship. Everybody knew what matters when you score an away goal, what matters if you don’t concede a goal, so these are two different games. I think the team with the better mentality and attitude on the day will win this game and I hope that it will be us.
How do you plan to take the momentum ahead?
Just focus on the game. In the important games, it’s easier to focus, it’s easier to concentrate and you know what you have to do on the pitch. I play this position and I love this position. And if I’m focused the whole day, I’m convinced that I will give the same performance like the first game.